Kitchen backsplash cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.20 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #168
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Cleveland, OH usually costs $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.20 to $46 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $70 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.99 an hour in the Cleveland area, 10% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Cleveland, OH, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 59% |
| Labor | $140 | $340 | $540 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Cleveland 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, Cleveland wages are 0.91 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Cleveland is at 93.6 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 93.9: $0 to $0.
How Cleveland compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Erie is the priciest of the group at $990. Youngstown is the cheapest at $790.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −6% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +19% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +16% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Cleveland ranks #168 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Cleveland is 3% above the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −3% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +13% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +2% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +6% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +11% |
Why two Cleveland quotes can differ
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.
Planning more than one job in Cleveland?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Cleveland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (−3%) and tile flooring lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,700 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $880 – $2,650 | −6% |
What local crews earn in Cleveland
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 Cleveland the blend is 0.91.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $23.99 an hour, 10% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $29.98 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 1.5 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 $29.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $38.03 an hour. About 3,280 work in the metro. That is 31.8 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 $75 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.4% to 9.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Cleveland has 1,031,130 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 36th 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% | $21.74 | $23.99 | $29.98 | $26.77 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.22 | $29.16 | $38.03 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Cleveland
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Cleveland. 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
$280 to $720
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$940 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $510 – $880 | $790 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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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 $610 to $1,050 for Cleveland, OH is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Cleveland?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 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 Cleveland?
About $9.20 to $46 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 Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 2% less than Cleveland ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $830. Materials are 59% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Cleveland?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Cleveland?
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 Cleveland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 3% 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 Cleveland?
The BLS median is $23.99 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.74 to $29.98.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Cleveland?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $720 and premium work $940 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Cleveland
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.