Kitchen backsplash cost in Reno, NV
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 – $50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #98
- 1 = most expensive
Reno homeowners pay roughly $300 to $1,500 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10 to $50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Reno is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.3).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Reno, NV, 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 Reno, NV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $390 | $630 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $900 | $1,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Reno number
Labor is 44% 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 Reno the blended ratio comes out at 1.05.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Reno metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Reno 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.
Planning more than one job in Reno?
Because every project leans on different trades, Reno's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +6% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $31,100 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $9,900 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +6% |
Cost by quality level and size in Reno
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Reno 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
$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 |
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 Reno is 1.05 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $28.20 an hour, which is 5% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.72 and $36.25 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 13.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.98 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $37.41 an hour. BLS counts 2,750 of them working in the area, 99.8 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 ($36.25 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($23.72) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 11.3% or 6.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 275,680 jobs in the Reno area. That makes it the 92nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.18% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.72 | $28.20 | $36.25 | $26.77 | 1.05 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.10 | $29.98 | $37.41 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Is Reno cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Reno. Chico is the lowest at about $890 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 115 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NVthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | |
| Chico, CA115 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −1% |
| Sacramento, CA125 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +4% |
| Redding, CA135 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
| Stockton, CA185 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +6% |
| Vallejo, CA185 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| Nevada (statewide) | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Reno comes in at #98 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Reno is 2% below the Nevada figure.
Other Nevada metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Reno's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Reno against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +4% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −16% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −8% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −9% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Reno: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Reno?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Reno 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 Reno?
About $10 to $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 Reno or Chico?
Chico is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $890, which is 1% less than Reno ($900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Reno?
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 Reno?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Reno?
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 Reno area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Reno expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Nevada?
Reno is 2% below the Nevada statewide estimate ($910 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nevada; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Reno?
The BLS median is $28.20 an hour in the Reno area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.72 to $36.25.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Reno?
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 Reno
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.