Kitchen backsplash cost in New Jersey
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,650
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $54.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 3
Across New Jersey, a kitchen backsplash costs about $330 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 9% above the US figure of $900. Tile and stone setters earn a median $29.99 an hour in New Jersey (US: $26.77).
Inside New Jersey, the metros we cover range from $940 (Atlantic City) to $940 (Trenton) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in New Jersey (statewide), standard level
$720 to $1,250
About $24 to $41.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $720 |
| Labor | $320 | $520 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $720 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in New Jersey
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $560 | $960 | 57% |
| Labor | $170 | $420 | $670 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $980 | $1,650 | 100% |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in New Jersey
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.11 for New Jersey.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $29.99 an hour, which is 12% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $46.73 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the state, 1.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.77 an hour, which is 6% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.63 and $38.67 an hour. BLS counts 14,230 of them working in the state, 33.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($46.73 an hour) would add about $210 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.31) would take off about $95. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,285,720 jobs across New Jersey (May 2025), which is 2.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $22.31 | $29.99 | $46.73 | $26.77 | 1.12 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.63 | $30.77 | $38.67 | $29.12 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Other New Jersey jobs that often go with kitchen backsplash
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide New Jersey wages and prices. Against national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+13%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (+8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,100 – $34,200 | +9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,200 | +8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,000 | +11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,300 – $26,200 | +12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,150 | +13% |
Quality levels and sizes in New Jersey
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide New Jersey wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$330 to $850
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$720 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,650
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $850 | $720 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,650 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $550 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
Which New Jersey city is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
0 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $980, and the top-to-bottom gap is 0%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −4% |
| Vineland, NJ | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −4% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −4% |
New Jersey against its neighbors
New Jersey ranks 7 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. New Jersey sits at $980. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 60 miles away | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −10% |
| New York | 100 miles away | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | level |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | level |
| Maryland | 110 miles away | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | −13% |
| Connecticut | 150 miles away | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −5% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in New Jersey
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.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for New Jersey, $9
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Kitchen backsplash in New Jersey: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in New Jersey?
$330 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside New Jersey can sit above or below that.
+Which city in New Jersey is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Atlantic City at about $940 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Trenton at $940.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in New Jersey than the US average?
It is 9% more expensive: $980 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in New Jersey?
About 43% ($420). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.11x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in New Jersey?
The BLS statewide median is $29.99 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $46.73.
+Where does New Jersey rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
7th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $980 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in New Jersey?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $850 and premium work $1,100 to $1,650. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in New Jersey
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.