Kitchen backsplash cost in Asheville, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.25 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #159
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Asheville, plan on $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.25 to $46.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.65 an hour in the Asheville area, 12% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Asheville, NC, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Asheville, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Asheville prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Asheville wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Asheville metro is 96.6 (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 (96.5) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Asheville
Because every project leans on different trades, Asheville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and kitchen cabinets −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,450 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,400 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $850 – $2,600 | −7% |
Why two Asheville quotes can differ
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Asheville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Asheville 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
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$950 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $510 – $880 | $790 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $610 – $1,050 | $950 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
Asheville against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Asheville. Johnson City is the lowest at about $800 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NCthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Johnson City, TN45 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| Hickory, NC65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Greenville, SC65 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Kingsport, TN70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Asheville comes in at #159 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Asheville is 4% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Asheville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Asheville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $300 – $1,450 | $880 | +6% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +3% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +19% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −8% |
Asheville labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Asheville is 0.88 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $23.65 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.92 and $27.94 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 2.8 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 $24.66 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.76 and $29.67 an hour. BLS counts 750 of them working in the area, 41.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.94 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($20.92) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 6.5% or 4.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 180,620 jobs in the Asheville area. That makes it the 127th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.92 | $23.65 | $27.94 | $26.77 | 0.88 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.76 | $24.66 | $29.67 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Asheville, NC, $9
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Kitchen backsplash in Asheville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Asheville?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Asheville area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Asheville?
About $9.25 to $46.50 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 Asheville or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 5% less than Asheville ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Asheville?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $840. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Asheville?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Asheville?
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 Asheville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Asheville expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Asheville is 4% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Asheville?
The BLS median is $23.65 an hour in the Asheville area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.92 to $27.94.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Asheville?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $950 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Asheville
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.