Kitchen backsplash cost in Knoxville, TN
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
- #264
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Knoxville, plan on $260 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.75 to $44.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 11% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $20.95 an hour in the Knoxville area, 22% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$590 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 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $470 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $800 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Knoxville 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 $20.95 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Knoxville is 0.79 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Knoxville metro is 96.2 (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 (92.6) 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 Knoxville. The wage table below marks each row.
Knoxville labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Knoxville is 0.79 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Knoxville metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $20.95 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.57 and $22.81 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.23 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.11 and $28.56 an hour. BLS counts 1,280 of them working in the area, 30.1 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 ($22.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $25. At the 25th percentile ($17.57) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 2.9% or 5.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 424,600 jobs in the Knoxville area. That makes it the 59th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.27% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.57 | $20.95 | $22.81 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.11 | $24.23 | $28.56 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Knoxville
Because every project leans on different trades, Knoxville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and shower pan −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,600 | −9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
How Knoxville compares
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 $760 to $840 across Knoxville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +3% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −5% |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Knoxville comes in at #264 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −5% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Knoxville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +16% |
Knoxville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Knoxville 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
$590 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 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Knoxville bid
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
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Kitchen backsplash in Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Knoxville?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the Knoxville area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 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 Knoxville?
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 Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $840, which is 5% more than Knoxville ($800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $800. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Knoxville?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% 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 Knoxville?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.95 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.57 to $22.81.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville
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.