Kitchen backsplash cost in Akron, OH
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
- $8.95 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #219
- 1 = most expensive
Akron homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.95 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Akron is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.48 an hour in the Akron area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Akron, OH, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Akron, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Akron 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, Akron wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Akron metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $490, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Is Akron cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Akron. Youngstown is the lowest at about $790 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OHthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Canton, OH30 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Youngstown, OH30 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −3% |
| Cleveland, OH35 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Wheeling, WV85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA90 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +19% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Akron comes in at #219 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Akron is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Akron's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Akron against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard, CA | 323,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +5% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +22% |
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
Why two Akron 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Akron
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Akron 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 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 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What nearby projects cost in Akron
Because every project leans on different trades, Akron's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −2% and tile flooring −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,100 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,700 | −2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
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 Akron is 0.86 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $22.48 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.81 and $29.97 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.36 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.61 and $37.10 an hour. BLS counts 980 of them working in the area, 30.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.97 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($20.81) it shrinks by about $20. The total moves by 11.6% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 319,560 jobs in the Akron area. That makes it the 80th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.21% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.81 | $22.48 | $29.97 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.61 | $29.36 | $37.10 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Akron: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Akron?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Akron area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 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 Akron?
About $8.95 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 Akron or Canton?
Canton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% less than Akron ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Akron?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $810. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Akron?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Akron?
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 Akron area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Akron expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Ohio?
Akron is 0% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Akron?
The BLS median is $22.48 an hour in the Akron area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.81 to $29.97.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Akron?
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 Akron
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.