Kitchen backsplash cost in Chattanooga, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $250 – $1,250
- Per sq ft
- $8.20 – $42.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Chattanooga area: $250 to $1,250 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 16% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $17.67 an hour in the Chattanooga area, 34% 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 Chattanooga, TN, standard level
$550 to $960
About $18.50 to $32 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 34% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $190 | $320 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $550 | $960 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Chattanooga, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 66% |
| Labor | $100 | $250 | $410 | 34% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $250 | $760 | $1,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Chattanooga number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Chattanooga wages are 0.68 times the national level. Labor makes up about 34% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chattanooga is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.5: $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Chattanooga
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chattanooga wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and tile flooring lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $1,800 – $8,800 | −15% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $760 – $2,450 | −14% |
Who does the work: Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga the blend is 0.68.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $17.67 an hour, 34% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.90 and $21.42 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.41 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.40 and $29.19 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 23.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $10. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chattanooga has 268,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 98th 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% | $16.90 | $17.67 | $21.42 | $26.77 | 0.66 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.40 | $24.41 | $29.19 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.68 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Chattanooga
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chattanooga. 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
$250 to $660
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$550 to $960
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$860 to $1,250
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $200 – $550 | $460 – $800 | $720 – $1,050 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $250 – $660 | $550 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $410 – $1,100 | $920 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,100 |
Why two Chattanooga quotes can differ
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.
Is Chattanooga cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Chattanooga. Knoxville comes closest at about $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TNthis page | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | |
| Dalton, GA35 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +8% |
| Huntsville, AL80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +8% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +6% |
| Gainesville, GA100 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +9% |
| Nashville, TN105 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +7% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +19% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chattanooga ranks #295 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chattanooga is 5% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +7% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +7% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +6% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +5% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +5% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chattanooga against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +29% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +8% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | +2% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +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 $550 to $960 for Chattanooga, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Chattanooga?
For 30 sq ft, expect $250 to $1,250 in the Chattanooga area. A standard-spec job lands at $550 to $960. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Chattanooga?
About $8.20 to $42.50 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 Chattanooga or Dalton?
Dalton is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 8% more than Chattanooga ($760). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chattanooga?
About 34% at the midpoint, or $250 out of $760. Materials are 66% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Chattanooga?
$250 to $1,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Chattanooga?
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 Chattanooga area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chattanooga expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Chattanooga is 5% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Chattanooga?
The BLS median is $17.67 an hour in the Chattanooga area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.90 to $21.42.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Chattanooga?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $250 to $660 and premium work $860 to $1,250. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Chattanooga
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.