Kitchen backsplash cost in Columbia, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.75 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #270
- 1 = most expensive
Columbia homeowners pay roughly $260 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.75 to $44.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Columbia is 11% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $20.92 an hour in the Columbia area, 22% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Columbia, SC, standard level
$580 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $220 | $360 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $580 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Columbia, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $290 | $470 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $800 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Columbia number
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 $20.92 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Columbia is 0.78 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Columbia metro is 96.3 (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 (93.7) and land at $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 Columbia. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Columbia cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Columbia. Florence comes closest at about $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SCthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | |
| Augusta, GA70 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +4% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Florence, SC70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Charlotte, NC75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC90 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Columbia comes in at #270 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Columbia is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Columbia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +8% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | +19% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
Cost by quality level and size in Columbia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Columbia 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
$260 to $690
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$580 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$910 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $690 | $580 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $970 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Columbia bid
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.
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 Columbia is 0.78 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Columbia metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $20.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.68 and $26.47 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.11 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.13 and $28.49 an hour. BLS counts 880 of them working in the area, 22.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $70. At the 25th percentile ($18.68) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 8.8% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 394,200 jobs in the Columbia area. That makes it the 65th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $18.68 | $20.92 | $26.47 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.13 | $23.11 | $28.49 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Columbia
Because every project leans on different trades, Columbia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and shower pan −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,400 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,300 | −11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −13% |
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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 $580 to $1,000 for Columbia, SC is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Columbia?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the Columbia area. A standard-spec job lands at $580 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Columbia?
About $8.75 to $44.50 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 Columbia or Augusta?
Augusta is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $830, which is 4% more than Columbia ($800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $290 out of $800. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Columbia?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Columbia?
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 Columbia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Columbia is 0% below the South Carolina statewide estimate ($800 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Columbia?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.92 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.68 to $26.47.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Columbia?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $690 and premium work $910 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Columbia
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.