Kitchen backsplash cost in North Carolina
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 11
Across North Carolina, a kitchen backsplash costs about $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% below the US figure of $900. Tile and stone setters earn a median $21.47 an hour in North Carolina (US: $26.77).
Inside North Carolina, the metros we cover range from $810 (Greenville) to $840 (Asheville) 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 North Carolina (statewide), standard level
$590 to $1,050
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in North Carolina
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for North Carolina
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Carolina wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,550 | −10% |
North Carolina against its neighbors
North Carolina ranks 43 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. North Carolina sits at $810. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 120 miles away | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Virginia | 180 miles away | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +6% |
| West Virginia | 240 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +5% |
| District of Columbia | 260 miles away | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +16% |
| Georgia | 270 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
Kitchen backsplash cost by metro in North Carolina
3 of the 11 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $810, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| Winston, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Durham, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Charlotte, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Burlington, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Hickory, NC | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Greenville, NC | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in North Carolina
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 0.80 for North Carolina.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $21.47 an hour, which is 20% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour. BLS counts 680 of them working in the state, 1.4 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 $23.61 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.27 and $28.27 an hour. BLS counts 13,480 of them working in the state, 27.3 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 ($24.36 an hour) would add about $35 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.02) would take off about $30. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,941,820 jobs across North Carolina (May 2025), which is 3.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.27 | $23.61 | $28.27 | $29.12 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in North Carolina
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.
Quality levels and sizes in North Carolina
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Carolina wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
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Kitchen backsplash in North Carolina: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in North Carolina?
$270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Carolina can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Carolina is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Greenville at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Asheville at $840.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in North Carolina than the US average?
It is 10% cheaper: $810 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Carolina?
About 37% ($300). Materials are 63%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.80x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in North Carolina?
The BLS statewide median is $21.47 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $24.36.
+Where does North Carolina rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
43rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $810 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in North Carolina?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in North Carolina
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.