Kitchen backsplash cost in Memphis, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.95 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #216
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Memphis, TN usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.95 to $45.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $85 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.00 an hour in the Memphis area, 18% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Memphis, TN, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $380 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $310 | $490 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why Memphis prices look the way they do
Labor is 38% 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 Memphis the blended ratio comes out at 0.82.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Memphis is at 96.2 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 92.2: $0 to $0.
Memphis against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Memphis. Little Rock is the lowest at about $750 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 145 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $750 | −7% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −8% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Memphis ranks #216 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Memphis is 2% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −7% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −3% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
What local crews earn in Memphis
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 Memphis the blend is 0.82.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.00 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $24.63 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 0.8 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 $24.34 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. About 1,240 work in the metro. That is 20.3 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 $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 6.4% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Memphis has 611,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 46th 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% | $17.87 | $22.00 | $24.63 | $26.77 | 0.82 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Memphis: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Memphis. 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Memphis 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.
What nearby projects cost in Memphis
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Memphis wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| 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 | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Memphis?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Memphis area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Memphis?
About $8.95 to $45.50 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 Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $750, which is 7% less than Memphis ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $810. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Memphis?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Memphis?
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 Memphis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 2% above 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 Memphis?
The BLS median is $22.00 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.87 to $24.63.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Memphis?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Memphis
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.