Kitchen backsplash cost in Dayton, 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
- $8.90 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #237
- 1 = most expensive
Dayton homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.90 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dayton is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.21 an hour in the Dayton area, 17% 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 Dayton, OH, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Dayton, 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% |
Where the Dayton price comes from
Labor is 39% 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 Dayton the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dayton 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 (92.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Dayton against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio
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 $810 to $840 across Dayton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, OHthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Cincinnati, OH55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Columbus, OH70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Fort Wayne, IN100 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Indianapolis, IN105 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Lexington, KY120 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Dayton comes in at #237 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Dayton is 0% below 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 | +1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 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 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Dayton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dayton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +9% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −8% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Dayton
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 Dayton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dayton 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
$590 to $1,000
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 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What nearby projects cost in Dayton
Because every project leans on different trades, Dayton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −5% and tile flooring −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,300 | −5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,200 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,400 – $21,900 | −6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $850 – $2,600 | −8% |
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 Dayton is 0.84 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $22.21 an hour, which is 17% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.31 and $28.25 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.3 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 $28.04 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.03 and $31.60 an hour. BLS counts 950 of them working in the area, 25.5 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 ($28.25 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $75. At the 25th percentile ($21.31) it shrinks by about $10. The total moves by 9.4% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 372,660 jobs in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek area. That makes it the 70th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.24% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $21.31 | $22.21 | $28.25 | $26.77 | 0.83 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.03 | $28.04 | $31.60 | $29.12 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
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 $590 to $1,000 for Dayton, OH is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Dayton, OH, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Dayton, 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 Dayton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Dayton?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Dayton area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Dayton?
About $8.90 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 Dayton or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% more than Dayton ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dayton?
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 Dayton?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Dayton?
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 Dayton area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dayton expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Ohio?
Dayton is 0% below 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 Dayton?
The BLS median is $22.21 an hour in the Dayton area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.31 to $28.25.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Dayton?
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 Dayton
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.