Kitchen backsplash cost in Cincinnati, 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
- #222
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Cincinnati, OH usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.95 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $90 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.42 an hour in the Cincinnati area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH, standard level
$590 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Cincinnati number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Cincinnati wages are 0.85 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Cincinnati is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.4: $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Cincinnati
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Cincinnati. 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 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What local crews earn in Cincinnati
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 Cincinnati the blend is 0.85.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.42 an hour, 16% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.12 and $27.45 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 1.0 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 $28.90 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.62 and $35.00 an hour. About 4,610 work in the metro. That is 41.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Cincinnati has 1,101,030 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 32nd 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% | $19.12 | $22.42 | $27.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.62 | $28.90 | $35.00 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Is Cincinnati cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Cincinnati. Dayton is the lowest at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OHthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Dayton, OH55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Lexington, KY65 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Indianapolis, IN100 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Columbus, OH105 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Cincinnati ranks #222 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Cincinnati is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cincinnati against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +8% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Cincinnati bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Cincinnati
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Cincinnati wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (−3%) and tile flooring lowest (−8%); 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 | $4,050 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −6% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Cincinnati, OH, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Cincinnati, OH 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 Cincinnati: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Cincinnati?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?
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 Cincinnati or Dayton?
Dayton is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% less than Cincinnati ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cincinnati?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $810. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Cincinnati?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Cincinnati?
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 Cincinnati area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cincinnati expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?
The BLS median is $22.42 an hour in the Cincinnati area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.12 to $27.45.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Cincinnati?
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 Cincinnati
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.