Kitchen backsplash cost in Las Cruces, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $240 – $1,250
- Per sq ft
- $8.10 – $42
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #299
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Las Cruces area: $240 to $1,250 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 16% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $16.81 an hour in the Las Cruces area, 37% below the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Las Cruces, NM, standard level
$550 to $960
About $18.50 to $32 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 33% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $190 | $310 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $550 | $960 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Las Cruces, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $870 | 67% |
| Labor | $100 | $250 | $400 | 33% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $240 | $750 | $1,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Las Cruces number
Labor is 33% 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 Las Cruces the blended ratio comes out at 0.66.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Las Cruces is at 96.1 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 90.2: $0 to $0.
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Las Cruces
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.
Related projects, priced for Las Cruces
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Las Cruces wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−17%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,100 | −6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $1,700 – $8,700 | −16% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −13% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $730 – $2,350 | −17% |
Who does the work: Las Cruces trade wages
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 Las Cruces the blend is 0.66.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $16.81 an hour, 37% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $15.71 and $21.55 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 3.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.42 an hour, 6% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.44 and $29.32 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 31.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $60 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $15. That is a swing of roughly 1.8% to 7.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Las Cruces has 80,000 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 238th 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% | $15.71 | $16.81 | $21.55 | $26.77 | 0.63 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.44 | $27.42 | $29.32 | $29.12 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.66 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Las Cruces
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Las Cruces. 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
$240 to $650
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$550 to $960
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$850 to $1,250
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $200 – $540 | $460 – $800 | $710 – $1,050 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $240 – $650 | $550 – $960 | $850 – $1,250 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $410 – $1,100 | $910 – $1,600 | $1,400 – $2,100 |
How Las Cruces compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Albuquerque is the priciest of the group at $820.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NMthis page | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | |
| El Paso, TX95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | +7% |
| Albuquerque, NM195 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +9% |
| Santa Fe, NM225 miles | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | +2% |
| Odessa, TX255 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +8% |
| Midland, TX285 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +8% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +8% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +20% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Las Cruces ranks #299 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Las Cruces is 7% below the New Mexico figure.
Elsewhere in New Mexico
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +9% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Las Cruces against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +19% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +9% |
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | +7% |
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +27% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $550 to $960 for Las Cruces, NM is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Las Cruces, NM, $9
Multi-page report for Las Cruces, NM: 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 Las Cruces: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Las Cruces?
For 30 sq ft, expect $240 to $1,250 in the Las Cruces area. A standard-spec job lands at $550 to $960. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Las Cruces?
About $8.10 to $42 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 Las Cruces or El Paso?
El Paso is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 7% more than Las Cruces ($750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Las Cruces?
About 33% at the midpoint, or $250 out of $750. Materials are 67% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Las Cruces?
$240 to $1,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Las Cruces?
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 Las Cruces area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Las Cruces expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Las Cruces is 7% below the New Mexico statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Las Cruces?
The BLS median is $16.81 an hour in the Las Cruces area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.71 to $21.55.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Las Cruces?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $240 to $650 and premium work $850 to $1,250. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Las Cruces
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.