Kitchen backsplash cost in Nashville, 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
- $8.90 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #221
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Nashville, plan on $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.90 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.60 an hour in the Nashville area, 19% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Nashville, TN, standard level
$590 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 | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Nashville, 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 Nashville 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 Nashville the blended ratio comes out at 0.82.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Nashville 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 (96.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Nashville 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 Nashville is 0.82 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $21.60 an hour, which is 19% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $26.98 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 1.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.81 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $29.35 an hour. BLS counts 3,040 of them working in the area, 27.7 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 ($26.98 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $70. At the 25th percentile ($17.64) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 8.4% or 6.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,099,300 jobs in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin area. That makes it the 33rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.71% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.64 | $21.60 | $26.98 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.80 | $26.81 | $29.35 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Nashville?
Because every project leans on different trades, Nashville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and tile flooring −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $13,200 | −5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
Nashville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Nashville 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 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 | $590 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Nashville against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Nashville. Chattanooga is the lowest at about $760 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 105 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TNthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Clarksville, TN65 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −7% |
| Decatur, AL115 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Nashville comes in at #221 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Nashville is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| 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% |
Cities with a workforce like Nashville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Nashville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +8% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +16% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Nashville 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.
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 $590 to $1,050 for Nashville, TN is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Nashville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Nashville?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Nashville area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 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 Nashville?
About $8.90 to $45 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 Nashville or Clarksville?
Clarksville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 2% less than Nashville ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Nashville?
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 Nashville?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Nashville?
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 Nashville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Nashville expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Nashville is 1% 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 Nashville?
The BLS median is $21.60 an hour in the Nashville area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.64 to $26.98.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Nashville?
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 Nashville
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.