Kitchen backsplash cost in Providence, RI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #105
- 1 = most expensive
Providence homeowners pay roughly $300 to $1,500 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10 to $49.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Providence is almost level. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.1).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Providence, RI, standard level
$660 to $1,150
About $22 to $38 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $660 |
| Labor | $290 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $660 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Providence, RI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $390 | $620 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $900 | $1,500 | 100% |
Where the Providence 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, Providence wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Providence metro is 97.1 (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 (101.8) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Providence
Because every project leans on different trades, Providence's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +7% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,000 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,900 | +3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
Is Providence cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $900 to $1,050 across Providence and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RIthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | |
| Norwich, CT45 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA55 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| Boston, MA60 miles | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +19% |
| Barnstable, MA60 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +17% |
| Hartford, CT65 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +4% |
| Rhode Island (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Providence comes in at #105 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Providence is 6% above the Rhode Island figure.
Providence is the only Rhode Island metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Providence's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Providence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −9% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −7% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −9% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −11% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Providence bid
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
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.
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 Providence is 1.03 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $27.54 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.62 and $32.09 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 0.8 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 $29.76 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.71 and $38.38 an hour. BLS counts 4,140 of them working in the area, 58.0 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 ($32.09 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($21.62) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 6.4% or 8.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 714,120 jobs in the Providence-Warwick area. That makes it the 42nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.46% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $21.62 | $27.54 | $32.09 | $26.77 | 1.03 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $26.71 | $29.76 | $38.38 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Providence: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Providence 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
$300 to $780
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$660 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $650 | $550 – $940 | $850 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $780 | $660 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Providence: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Providence?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Providence area. A standard-spec job lands at $660 to $1,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Providence?
About $10 to $49.50 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 Providence or Norwich?
Norwich is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $930, which is 4% more than Providence ($900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Providence?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $900. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Providence?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Providence?
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 Providence area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Providence expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Rhode Island?
Providence is 6% above the Rhode Island statewide estimate ($850 at the midpoint).
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Providence?
The BLS median is $27.54 an hour in the Providence area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.62 to $32.09.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Providence?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $780 and premium work $1,000 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Providence
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.