Kitchen backsplash cost in Fargo, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.60 – $48
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #125
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Fargo area: $290 to $1,450 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 4% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Fargo, ND, standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $270 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Fargo, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 58% |
| Labor | $140 | $360 | $580 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
Why Fargo prices look the way they do
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 $25.70 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fargo is 0.96 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fargo is at 95.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 90.9: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Fargo 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 Fargo the blend is 0.96.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $25.70 an hour, 4% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $18.15 and $29.68 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 3.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.34 and $31.06 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 59.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $50 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 11.0% to 5.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fargo has 148,660 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 156th 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% | $18.15 | $25.70 | $29.68 | $26.77 | 0.96 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.34 | $28.34 | $31.06 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
Is Fargo cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $1,000 across Fargo and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, NDthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| St. Cloud, MN150 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +12% |
| Bismarck, ND190 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −8% |
| Minneapolis, MN215 miles | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +18% |
| Duluth, MN215 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +12% |
| Sioux Falls, SD235 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −3% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −8% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fargo ranks #125 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fargo is 8% above the North Dakota figure.
Elsewhere in North Dakota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fargo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −6% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −7% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −5% |
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +11% |
Why two Fargo quotes can differ
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Fargo
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fargo. 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
$290 to $750
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$630 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$980 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $620 | $530 – $910 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $750 | $630 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
What nearby projects cost in Fargo
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fargo wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (−3%) and shower pan lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,800 – $30,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,700 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,700 | −4% |
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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 $630 to $1,100 for Fargo, ND is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Fargo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Fargo?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Fargo area. A standard-spec job lands at $630 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Fargo?
About $9.60 to $48 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 Fargo or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 12% more than Fargo ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fargo?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $360 out of $860. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Fargo?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Fargo?
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 Fargo area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fargo expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Fargo is 8% above 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 Fargo?
The BLS median is $25.70 an hour in the Fargo area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.15 to $29.68.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Fargo?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $750 and premium work $980 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Fargo
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.