Kitchen backsplash cost in Philadelphia, 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 – $54
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #30
- 1 = most expensive
Philadelphia homeowners pay roughly $330 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11 to $54 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Philadelphia is 8% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $34.01 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 27% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$720 to $1,250
About $24 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $350 | $580 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $720 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 52% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $750 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $980 | $1,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Philadelphia number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Philadelphia wages are 1.25 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Philadelphia metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (102.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Philadelphia quotes can differ
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.
Philadelphia against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Philadelphia. Atlantic City is the lowest at about $940 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −3% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −3% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $990 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −1% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −4% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Philadelphia comes in at #30 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Philadelphia is 1% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −10% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +2% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Philadelphia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −9% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −13% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −13% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | −11% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Philadelphia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Philadelphia 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 $850
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$720 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) | $280 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $850 | $720 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $550 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
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 Philadelphia is 1.25 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $34.01 an hour, which is 27% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.64 and $38.68 an hour. BLS counts 390 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 $29.70 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.17 and $36.83 an hour. BLS counts 14,260 of them working in the area, 49.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($24.64) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 6.0% or 12.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,897,830 jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area. That makes it the 7th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $24.64 | $34.01 | $38.68 | $26.77 | 1.27 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.17 | $29.70 | $36.83 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Philadelphia?
Because every project leans on different trades, Philadelphia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +12% and kitchen remodel level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,000 – $24,900 | +7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,100 | +12% |
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 $720 to $1,250 for Philadelphia, PA is attached.
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The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Philadelphia?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $720 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $940, which is 3% less than Philadelphia ($980). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $470 out of $980. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Philadelphia?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 1% 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 Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $34.01 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.64 to $38.68.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Philadelphia?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $850 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Philadelphia
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.