Kitchen backsplash cost in Tulsa, OK
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,300
- Per sq ft
- $8.65 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #286
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Tulsa, OK usually costs $260 to $1,300 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.65 to $44 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $110 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.22 an hour in the Tulsa area, 21% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Tulsa, OK, standard level
$580 to $1,000
About $19 to $33.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $580 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Tulsa, OK
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $470 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $790 | $1,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Tulsa number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Tulsa wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tulsa 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 89.2: $0 to $0.
Tulsa against nearby metros and the rest of Oklahoma
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Tulsa. Fort Smith is the lowest at about $750 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 110 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OKthis page | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK95 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | level |
| Joplin, MO110 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +13% |
| Wichita, KS110 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +4% |
| Fort Smith, AR110 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $750 | −4% |
| Fayetteville, AR115 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −4% |
| Oklahoma (statewide) | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tulsa ranks #286 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tulsa is 0% below the Oklahoma figure.
Elsewhere in Oklahoma
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tulsa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +17% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +15% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +18% |
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +48% |
Why two Tulsa quotes can differ
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
What local crews earn in Tulsa
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 Tulsa the blend is 0.79.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $21.22 an hour, 21% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.87 and $24.18 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 2.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.51 an hour, 23% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.30 and $25.03 an hour. About 1,320 work in the metro. That is 28.8 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 $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 7.0% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tulsa has 458,730 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 54th 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% | $16.87 | $21.22 | $24.18 | $26.77 | 0.79 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.30 | $22.51 | $25.03 | $29.12 | 0.77 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Tulsa
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tulsa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−8%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,900 – $28,800 | −8% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,000 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,500 | −11% |
Cost by quality level and size in Tulsa
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tulsa. 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
$260 to $680
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$580 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$890 to $1,300
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $570 | $480 – $830 | $750 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $680 | $580 – $1,000 | $890 – $1,300 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $430 – $1,150 | $960 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Tulsa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Tulsa?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,300 in the Tulsa area. A standard-spec job lands at $580 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 Tulsa?
About $8.65 to $44 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 Tulsa or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $790, which is 0% more than Tulsa ($790). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tulsa?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $790. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Tulsa?
$260 to $1,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Tulsa?
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 Tulsa area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tulsa expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Oklahoma?
Tulsa is 0% below the Oklahoma statewide estimate ($790 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Oklahoma; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Tulsa?
The BLS median is $21.22 an hour in the Tulsa area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.87 to $24.18.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Tulsa?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $680 and premium work $890 to $1,300. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Tulsa
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.