Kitchen backsplash cost in St. Louis, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $53
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #48
- 1 = most expensive
St. Louis homeowners pay roughly $320 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10.50 to $53 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, St. Louis is 6% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.60 an hour in the St. Louis area, 14% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in St. Louis, MO, standard level
$700 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $40.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $330 | $530 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $700 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in St. Louis, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $900 | 55% |
| Labor | $170 | $430 | $690 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $950 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the St. Louis price comes from
Labor is 45% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In St. Louis the blended ratio comes out at 1.15.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the St. Louis metro is 100.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $520, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.1) and land at $0 to $0.
St. Louis: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for St. Louis wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$320 to $830
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$700 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $690 | $580 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $830 | $700 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $540 – $1,400 | $1,150 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
St. Louis against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Louis is the priciest of the group. Columbia is the cheapest at $900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MOthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | |
| Springfield, IL85 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −1% |
| Jefferson City, MO95 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
| Columbia, MO120 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
| Bloomington, IL145 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −1% |
| Peoria, IL150 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −1% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, St. Louis comes in at #48 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, St. Louis is 5% above the Missouri figure.
Other Missouri metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −8% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $780 | −18% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −7% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like St. Louis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. Louis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | −11% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −15% |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −15% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +2% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for St. Louis is 1.15 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $30.60 an hour, which is 14% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $37.48 an hour. BLS counts 280 of them working in the area, 2.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $34.13 an hour, which is 17% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.32 and $44.28 an hour. BLS counts 7,210 of them working in the area, 53.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($37.48 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($21.48) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 9.1% or 12.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,341,320 jobs in the St. Louis area. That makes it the 23rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $21.48 | $30.60 | $37.48 | $26.77 | 1.14 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.32 | $34.13 | $44.28 | $29.12 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Planning more than one job in St. Louis?
Because every project leans on different trades, St. Louis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +9% and kitchen remodel +3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,100 – $32,500 | +3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $15,300 | +8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,750 – $10,500 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,300 | +9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
Why two St. Louis quotes can differ
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for St. Louis, MO, $9
Multi-page report for St. Louis, MO: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in St. Louis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in St. Louis?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the St. Louis area. A standard-spec job lands at $700 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in St. Louis?
About $10.50 to $53 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in St. Louis or Springfield?
Springfield is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $950, which is 1% less than St. Louis ($950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. Louis?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $430 out of $950. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in St. Louis?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in St. Louis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the St. Louis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. Louis expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Missouri?
St. Louis is 5% above the Missouri statewide estimate ($910 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in St. Louis?
The BLS median is $30.60 an hour in the St. Louis area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.48 to $37.48.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in St. Louis?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $830 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near St. Louis
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.