Kitchen backsplash cost in Lancaster, PA
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 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #39
- 1 = most expensive
Lancaster homeowners pay roughly $330 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11 to $53.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Lancaster is 7% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $31.79 an hour in the Lancaster area, 19% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Lancaster, PA, standard level
$710 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $40.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $330 | $540 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Lancaster, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $910 | 55% |
| Labor | $170 | $440 | $700 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $960 | $1,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Lancaster number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Lancaster wages are 1.16 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lancaster metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $530, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Lancaster
Because every project leans on different trades, Lancaster's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, tile flooring runs +7% and kitchen cabinets −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,500 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,750 – $10,500 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,700 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $990 – $2,900 | +4% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Lancaster
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.
Lancaster against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. York is the priciest of the group at $990. Baltimore is the cheapest at $850.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PAthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | |
| York, PA25 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| Reading, PA30 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| Harrisburg, PA45 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +1% |
| Baltimore, MD55 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | −12% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, Lancaster comes in at #39 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Lancaster is 2% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −9% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Lancaster's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lancaster against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +3% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −15% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +5% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −2% |
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 Lancaster is 1.16 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $31.79 an hour, which is 19% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.16 and $36.02 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 2.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $29.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,750 of them working in the area, 109.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.02 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($24.16) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 5.5% or 10.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 252,230 jobs in the Lancaster area. That makes it the 103rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $24.16 | $31.79 | $36.02 | $26.77 | 1.19 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.56 | $26.77 | $29.68 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Lancaster: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lancaster 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
$330 to $840
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,200
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 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $840 | $710 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $540 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
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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 $710 to $1,200 for Lancaster, PA is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Lancaster: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Lancaster?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Lancaster area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Lancaster?
About $11 to $53.50 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 Lancaster or York?
York is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $990, which is 3% more than Lancaster ($960). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lancaster?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $440 out of $960. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Lancaster?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lancaster expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Lancaster is 2% 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 Lancaster?
The BLS median is $31.79 an hour in the Lancaster area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.16 to $36.02.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster
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.