Kitchen backsplash cost in Houston, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.25 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #150
- 1 = most expensive
Houston homeowners pay roughly $280 to $1,400 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.25 to $47 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Houston is 6% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the Houston area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Houston, TX, standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Houston, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $910 | 63% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Where the Houston price comes from
Labor is 37% 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 Houston the blended ratio comes out at 0.84. 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 Houston metro is 100.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $530, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.6) 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 Houston. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Houston 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 Houston 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 $23.88 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.40 and $28.94 an hour. BLS counts 9,600 of them working in the area, 29.2 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 5.7% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 3,289,720 jobs in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands area. That makes it the 5th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.12% 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% | $22.40 | $23.88 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Houston against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Houston is the priciest of the group. Lake Charles is the cheapest at $790.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TXthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Beaumont, TX70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| College Station, TX95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Lake Charles, LA130 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −6% |
| Austin, TX140 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Waco, TX170 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Houston comes in at #150 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Houston is 2% above the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −6% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Houston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | +5% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +26% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +16% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Houston 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.
What nearby projects cost in Houston
Because every project leans on different trades, Houston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −2% and kitchen cabinets −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,100 – $30,800 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $12,900 | −7% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,400 – $21,900 | −6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −5% |
Cost by quality level and size in Houston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houston 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
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$960 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $510 – $890 | $800 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Houston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Houston?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Houston area. A standard-spec job lands at $620 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 Houston?
About $9.25 to $47 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 Houston or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 4% less than Houston ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houston?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $840. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Houston?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Houston?
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 Houston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houston expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
Houston is 2% above 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 Houston?
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 Houston?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $960 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Houston
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.