Kitchen backsplash cost in Reading, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,650
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $54.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #25
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Reading area: $330 to $1,650 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 10% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $33.77 an hour in the Reading area, 26% above the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Reading, PA, standard level
$730 to $1,250
About $24 to $41.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $350 | $570 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $730 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Reading, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $910 | 53% |
| Labor | $180 | $460 | $740 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $990 | $1,650 | 100% |
Where the Reading 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 $33.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Reading is 1.23 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Reading is at 100.7 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 97.1: $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Reading. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Reading
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Reading. 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 $860
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$730 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,650
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $280 – $710 | $610 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $860 | $730 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,650 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $560 – $1,450 | $1,200 – $2,100 | $1,850 – $2,750 |
How Reading compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Reading. Allentown is the lowest at about $880 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 40 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PAthis page | $330 – $1,650 | $990 | |
| Lancaster, PA30 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| Allentown, PA40 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −11% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | −1% |
| York, PA55 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | level |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Reading ranks #25 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Reading is 0% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| 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 | −2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −11% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Reading against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $310 – $1,600 | $950 | −4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $900 | −9% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −15% |
| Naples, FL | 173,880 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −13% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Reading
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.
Who does the work: Reading 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 Reading the blend is 1.23.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Reading metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $33.77 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.16 and $37.82 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.41 an hour, 9% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.60 and $29.57 an hour. About 760 work in the metro. That is 43.5 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 $50 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 12.3% to 5.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Reading has 174,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 132nd 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% | $24.16 | $33.77 | $37.82 | $26.77 | 1.26 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.60 | $26.41 | $29.57 | $29.12 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.23 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Reading
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Reading wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (+10%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,700 | +10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +7% |
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 $730 to $1,250 for Reading, PA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Reading, 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 Reading: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Reading?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,650 in the Reading area. A standard-spec job lands at $730 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 Reading?
About $11 to $54.50 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 Reading or Lancaster?
Lancaster is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 2% less than Reading ($990). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Reading?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $460 out of $990. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Reading?
$330 to $1,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Reading?
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 Reading area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Reading expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Reading is 0% above 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 Reading?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.77 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.16 to $37.82.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Reading?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $860 and premium work $1,100 to $1,650. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Reading
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.