Kitchen backsplash cost in Billings, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #103
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Billings, MT usually costs $300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $10 to $49.50 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Billings, MT, standard level
$660 to $1,150
About $22 to $38 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $300 | $490 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $660 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Billings, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $390 | $630 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $900 | $1,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Billings number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Billings wages are 1.05 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Montana statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Billings is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.5: $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Billings. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Billings
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Billings the blend is 1.05.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Billings metro, so we used the Montana statewide median: $28.21 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $29.82 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $30.83 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 56.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 7.0% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Billings has 93,800 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 213th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.23 | $28.21 | $29.82 | $26.77 | 1.05 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.84 | $28.34 | $30.83 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Billings
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Billings. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$300 to $780
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$660 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $650 | $550 – $950 | $850 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $780 | $660 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
Billings against nearby metros and the rest of Montana
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Bozeman is the priciest of the group at $900. Idaho Falls is the cheapest at $770.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −14% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −7% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −6% |
| Montana (statewide) | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Billings ranks #103 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Billings is 0% above the Montana figure.
Elsewhere in Montana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +17% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −5% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −8% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Billings bid
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Related projects, priced for Billings
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Billings wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+7%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $31,000 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,000 | −1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $9,900 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,400 | +5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Billings, MT, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Billings, MT line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Billings?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Billings area. A standard-spec job lands at $660 to $1,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Billings?
About $10 to $49.50 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 Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $900, which is 1% more than Billings ($900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $900. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Billings?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Billings?
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 Billings area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 0% above the Montana statewide estimate ($900 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Billings?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $28.21 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.23 to $29.82.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Billings?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $780 and premium work $1,000 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Billings
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.