Kitchen backsplash cost in Hilton Head, 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
- #267
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Hilton Head area: $260 to $1,350 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 11% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $20.92 an hour in the Hilton Head area, 22% below 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 Hilton Head, 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 Hilton Head, 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% |
Where the Hilton Head price comes from
Labor is 37% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Hilton Head the blended ratio comes out at 0.78. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hilton Head is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.0: $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 Hilton Head. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Hilton Head bid
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.
Who does the work: Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head the blend is 0.78.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hilton Head 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.25 and $29.40 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 53.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 8.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal has 81,920 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 232nd 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% | $18.68 | $20.92 | $26.47 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.25 | $23.59 | $29.40 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Hilton Head
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hilton Head. 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
$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 |
What nearby projects cost in Hilton Head
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hilton Head wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $790 – $2,500 | −11% |
How Hilton Head compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Augusta is the priciest of the group at $830. Columbia is the cheapest at $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SCthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | |
| Savannah, GA30 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +3% |
| Charleston, SC65 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +4% |
| Columbia, SC115 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Florence, SC135 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hilton Head ranks #267 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hilton Head is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 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 |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hilton Head against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −4% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −1% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
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 $580 to $1,000 for Hilton Head, SC is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Hilton Head, SC, $9
Multi-page report for Hilton Head, SC: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Hilton Head: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Hilton Head?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head or Savannah?
Savannah is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 3% more than Hilton Head ($800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hilton Head expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head
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.