Kitchen backsplash cost in El Paso, 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
- $8.85 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #257
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the El Paso area: $270 to $1,350 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 11% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the El Paso area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $120 | $310 | $500 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $800 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why El Paso prices look the way they do
Labor is 39% 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 El Paso the blended ratio comes out at 0.83. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. El Paso is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.9: $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 El Paso. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in El Paso
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to El Paso. 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
$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) | $270 – $700 | $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 El Paso 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.
Who does the work: El Paso 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 El Paso the blend is 0.83.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the El Paso 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $20.40 an hour, 30% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.42 and $23.98 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 18.3 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 $50 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 5.2% to 6.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
El Paso has 339,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 76th 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% | $19.28 | $22.61 | $26.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $17.42 | $20.40 | $23.98 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Is El Paso cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than El Paso. Las Cruces is the lowest at about $750 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TXthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | |
| Las Cruces, NM95 miles | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −6% |
| Odessa, TX175 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Midland, TX210 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Lubbock, TX250 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Albuquerque, NM255 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, El Paso ranks #257 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, El Paso is 3% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +7% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −1% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is El Paso against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Bakersfield, CA | 338,230 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +18% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +23% |
What nearby projects cost in El Paso
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same El Paso wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−10%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−17%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,600 – $28,300 | −10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,400 | −17% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,050 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,000 – $19,900 | −14% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $800 – $2,500 | −12% |
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Kitchen backsplash in El Paso: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in El Paso?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the El Paso 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 El Paso?
About $8.85 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 El Paso or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $750, which is 6% less than El Paso ($800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in El Paso?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $800. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in El Paso?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in El Paso?
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 El Paso area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is El Paso expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
El Paso 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 El Paso?
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 El Paso?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $910 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near El Paso
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.