Kitchen backsplash cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.35 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 1
Rhode Island prices for kitchen backsplash: $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, or $9.35 to $47 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 6% below the national one. Local wages for tile and stone setters are $23.64 an hour.
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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 Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $660 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $340 | $540 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $850 | $1,400 | 100% |
Wages behind the Rhode Island number
Rhode Island's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.90 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $23.64 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.07 and $28.47 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.25 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.14 and $36.42 an hour. About 2,580 work in the state. That is 51.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($28.47 an hour) would add about $60 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.07) would take off about $60. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.07 | $23.64 | $28.47 | $26.77 | 0.88 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.14 | $29.25 | $36.42 | $29.12 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Rhode Island versus the states around it
Rhode Island ranks 30 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. Rhode Island sits at $850. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +25% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +10% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +16% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +16% |
Why two Rhode Island quotes can differ
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.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Basic, standard or premium: Rhode Island prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$960 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $520 – $890 | $800 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
Other Rhode Island jobs that often go with kitchen backsplash
Each project weights the trades differently, so Rhode Island's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, shower pan is +2% and tile flooring −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $31,000 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,650 – $23,100 | −1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $960 – $2,850 | +2% |
Kitchen backsplash cost by metro in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
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 $620 to $1,050 for Rhode Island is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Rhode Island?
$280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Providence at about $900 (midpoint, 30 sq ft).
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 6% cheaper: $850 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 40% ($340). Materials are 60%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.90x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $23.64 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.07 to $28.47.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
30th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $850 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Rhode Island?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $960 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Rhode Island
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.