Kitchen backsplash cost in Austin, TX
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
- #233
- 1 = most expensive
Austin homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.90 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Austin is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the Austin area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Austin, TX, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Austin, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Austin price comes from
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 $22.61 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Austin is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Austin metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $490, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.1) 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 Austin. The wage table below marks each row.
Austin against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Austin. San Antonio is the lowest at about $790 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TXthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Killeen, TX65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| San Antonio, TX80 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −2% |
| Waco, TX95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Houston, TX140 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Austin comes in at #233 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Austin is 3% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +6% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Austin's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Austin against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +18% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +20% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | +5% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Austin
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Austin 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 $1,000
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 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What nearby projects cost in Austin
Because every project leans on different trades, Austin's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs −7% and kitchen cabinets −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,600 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,400 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Austin is 0.84 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Austin metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $22.61 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $26.45 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.16 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $28.01 an hour. BLS counts 2,540 of them working in the area, 19.6 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 ($26.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($19.28) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 6.0% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,293,690 jobs in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area. That makes it the 24th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.83% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.28 | $22.61 | $26.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.05 | $24.16 | $28.01 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Austin
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 $1,000 for Austin, TX is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Austin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Austin?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Austin 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 Austin?
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 Austin or Killeen?
Killeen is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% less than Austin ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Austin?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $810. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Austin?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Austin?
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 Austin area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Austin expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
Austin is 3% below the Texas statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Austin?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.61 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.28 to $26.45.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Austin?
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 Austin
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.