Kitchen backsplash cost in Raleigh, 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
- $8.90 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #224
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Raleigh, NC usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.90 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $90 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.57 an hour in the Raleigh area, 19% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Raleigh, NC, standard level
$590 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $380 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $490 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Raleigh price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Raleigh wages are 0.81 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Raleigh 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 98.2: $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Raleigh
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Raleigh wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−5%) and tile flooring 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 | $4,000 – $12,700 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −8% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Raleigh
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Raleigh
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Raleigh. 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 | $770 – $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 local crews earn in Raleigh
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 Raleigh the blend is 0.81.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $21.57 an hour, 19% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.30 and $24.04 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 1.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.43 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.31 and $29.01 an hour. About 2,680 work in the metro. That is 36.1 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 $30 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 3.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Raleigh-Cary has 743,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 41st 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% | $19.30 | $21.57 | $24.04 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.31 | $24.43 | $29.01 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
How Raleigh compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Greensboro is the priciest of the group at $840. Greenville is the cheapest at $810.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Greensboro, NC75 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, Raleigh ranks #224 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Raleigh is 0% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 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 Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Raleigh?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
About $8.90 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 Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% less than Raleigh ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
The BLS median is $21.57 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.30 to $24.04.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh
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.