Kitchen backsplash cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.65 – $49
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #120
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Allentown area: $290 to $1,450 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 lands close to the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $24.71 an hour in the Allentown area, 8% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Allentown, PA, standard level
$640 to $1,100
About $21.50 to $37 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $260 | $430 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $640 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $910 | 60% |
| Labor | $140 | $350 | $560 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $880 | $1,450 | 100% |
Where the Allentown price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Allentown wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Allentown is at 100.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $530 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.0: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Allentown 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 Allentown the blend is 0.93.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $24.71 an hour, 8% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $33.48 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 2.1 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 $28.63 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $32.64 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 36.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $10. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 12.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has 377,180 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 69th 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% | $23.80 | $24.71 | $33.48 | $26.77 | 0.92 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.31 | $28.63 | $32.64 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Allentown?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Allentown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (level) and tile flooring lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,600 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,000 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,850 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,700 – $23,300 | level |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $910 – $2,750 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Allentown
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Allentown. 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
$290 to $760
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$640 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$990 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $630 | $530 – $930 | $830 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $760 | $640 – $1,100 | $990 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,450 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Allentown bid
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.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Allentown against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Allentown. Trenton comes closest at about $940.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $990 | +13% |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +13% |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +8% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +11% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +10% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +12% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Allentown ranks #120 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Allentown is 11% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +11% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +10% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +13% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +13% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +10% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +13% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −4% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −8% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −5% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Allentown, PA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Allentown, PA 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 Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Allentown?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $640 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Allentown?
About $9.65 to $49 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 Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $990, which is 13% more than Allentown ($880). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $350 out of $880. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Allentown?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Allentown?
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 Allentown area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 11% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($980 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $24.71 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.80 to $33.48.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Allentown?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $760 and premium work $990 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Allentown
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.