Kitchen backsplash cost in Charlotte, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #229
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Charlotte area: $270 to $1,350 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 10% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.47 an hour in the Charlotte area, 20% 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 Charlotte, NC, 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 Charlotte, NC
| 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% |
Where the Charlotte price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.47 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charlotte is 0.81 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charlotte is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.3: $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Charlotte. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Charlotte
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charlotte. 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
$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 – $860 | $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 |
What nearby projects cost in Charlotte
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charlotte wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−5%) and shower pan lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −9% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Charlotte
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.
Charlotte against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Greensboro is the priciest of the group at $840. Columbia is the cheapest at $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NCthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC65 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Columbia, SC75 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC80 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charlotte ranks #229 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charlotte is 0% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlotte against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +2% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | +5% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +18% |
Who does the work: Charlotte 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 Charlotte the blend is 0.81.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Charlotte metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.50 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.52 and $28.49 an hour. About 3,730 work in the metro. That is 27.5 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 $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.8% to 4.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has 1,358,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 21st 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% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.52 | $24.50 | $28.49 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
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 $590 to $1,050 for Charlotte, NC is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Charlotte, NC, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Charlotte, NC line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Charlotte: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Charlotte?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Charlotte area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 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 Charlotte?
About $8.85 to $45 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 Charlotte or Hickory?
Hickory is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% less than Charlotte ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlotte?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $810. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Charlotte?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Charlotte?
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 Charlotte area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlotte expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Charlotte is 0% 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 Charlotte?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.47 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $24.36.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Charlotte?
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 near Charlotte
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.