Kitchen backsplash cost in Columbus, 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
- $9.05 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #206
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Columbus, OH usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.05 to $45.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $80 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.62 an hour in the Columbus area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Columbus, 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 | $250 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Columbus, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $520 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $820 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Columbus number
Labor is 40% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Columbus the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Columbus 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 95.5: $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Columbus
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Columbus. 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 $710
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$930 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What local crews earn in Columbus
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 Columbus the blend is 0.87.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.62 an hour, 16% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.02 and $27.69 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 1.2 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 $31.96 an hour, 10% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.61 and $37.69 an hour. About 3,620 work in the metro. That is 32.7 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 $65 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $20. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Columbus has 1,105,580 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 30th 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% | $21.02 | $22.62 | $27.69 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $27.61 | $31.96 | $37.69 | $29.12 | 1.10 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Why two Columbus 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.
Related projects, priced for Columbus
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Columbus wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+1%) and tile flooring lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,200 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,600 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
Columbus against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Huntington is the priciest of the group at $850. Canton is the cheapest at $810.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OHthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Dayton, OH70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Canton, OH100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Wheeling, WV105 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Cincinnati, OH105 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Huntington, WV110 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Columbus ranks #206 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Columbus is 1% above the Ohio figure.
Elsewhere in Ohio
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −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 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| 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 Columbus against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +18% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −3% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
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 $600 to $1,050 for Columbus, OH is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Columbus, 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 Columbus: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Columbus?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Columbus 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 Columbus?
About $9.05 to $45.50 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 Columbus or Dayton?
Dayton is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% less than Columbus ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbus?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $820. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Columbus?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Columbus?
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 Columbus area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbus expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Ohio?
Columbus is 1% 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 Columbus?
The BLS median is $22.62 an hour in the Columbus area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.02 to $27.69.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Columbus?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Columbus
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.