Kitchen backsplash cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.70 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #276
- 1 = most expensive
Bismarck homeowners pay roughly $260 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.70 to $44.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bismarck is 12% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $20.49 an hour in the Bismarck area, 23% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$580 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $33.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $220 | $360 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $580 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $290 | $470 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $790 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why Bismarck 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, Bismarck wages are 0.78 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $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 Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Bismarck
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and tile flooring −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $29,900 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,100 | −6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,000 | −6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,650 | −6% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Bismarck
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Bismarck
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck 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
$260 to $690
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$580 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$900 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $570 | $480 – $840 | $750 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $690 | $580 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $430 – $1,150 | $970 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Bismarck is 0.78 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $20.49 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $29.68 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.28 an hour, which is 10% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $30.71 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($18.00) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 14.6% or 4.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $18.00 | $20.49 | $29.68 | $26.77 | 0.77 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.75 | $26.28 | $30.71 | $29.12 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Bismarck against nearby metros and the rest of North Dakota
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $790 to $970 across Bismarck and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +9% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +6% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +22% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $290 – $1,400 | $850 | +8% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #276 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Bismarck is 0% below the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +9% |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +6% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +16% |
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 $580 to $1,000 for Bismarck, ND is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Bismarck?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the Bismarck area. A standard-spec job lands at $580 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Bismarck?
About $8.70 to $44.50 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 Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 9% more than Bismarck ($790). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $290 out of $790. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Bismarck?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Bismarck?
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 Bismarck area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 0% below the North Dakota statewide estimate ($800 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Bismarck?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.49 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.00 to $29.68.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Bismarck?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $690 and premium work $900 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Bismarck
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.