Kitchen backsplash cost in Portland, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $54
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #33
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Portland area: $330 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $29.76 an hour in the Portland area, 11% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Portland, OR, standard level
$710 to $1,250
About $24 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $320 | $520 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Portland, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 57% |
| Labor | $170 | $420 | $670 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $970 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.76 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Portland is 1.12 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.4: $0 to $0.
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Portland
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.
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Oregon
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Yakima is the priciest of the group at $1,050. Bend is the cheapest at $890.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ORthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | |
| Salem, OR50 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| Olympia, WA95 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +9% |
| Yakima, WA100 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +9% |
| Eugene, OR115 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| Bend, OR125 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −8% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #33 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 3% above the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −8% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −17% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −5% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +1% |
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$330 to $840
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $840 | $710 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $540 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
Planning more than one job in Portland?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+22%) and tile flooring lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,500 – $34,900 | +11% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,800 – $16,600 | +17% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,700 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,650 – $27,900 | +20% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,350 | +22% |
Who does the work: Portland trade wages
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 Portland the blend is 1.12.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $29.76 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.43 and $35.94 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 3.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.44 an hour, 22% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.53 and $49.78 an hour. About 9,210 work in the metro. That is 76.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 6.9% to 8.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has 1,208,410 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 25th 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% | $24.43 | $29.76 | $35.94 | $26.77 | 1.11 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.53 | $35.44 | $49.78 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.12 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Portland?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 to $1,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Portland?
About $11 to $54 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 Portland or Salem?
Salem is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $950, which is 3% less than Portland ($970). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $420 out of $970. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Oregon?
Portland is 3% above the Oregon statewide estimate ($950 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $29.76 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.43 to $35.94.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Portland?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $840 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Portland
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.