Kitchen backsplash cost in San Antonio, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.70 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #277
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in San Antonio, TX usually costs $260 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.70 to $44 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $110 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.48 an hour in the San Antonio area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in San Antonio, TX, standard level
$580 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $33.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $580 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in San Antonio, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $790 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the San Antonio 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 $21.48 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for San Antonio is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 38% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Antonio 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 94.7: $0 to $0.
What local crews earn in San Antonio
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 San Antonio the blend is 0.80.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $21.48 an hour, 20% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $23.25 an hour. About 90 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 $23.51 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.91 and $26.49 an hour. About 2,240 work in the metro. That is 19.9 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 $20 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 2.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Antonio-New Braunfels has 1,126,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 28th 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 | $21.48 | $23.25 | $26.77 | 0.80 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.91 | $23.51 | $26.49 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Planning more than one job in San Antonio?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Antonio wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−8%) and tile flooring lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,000 – $28,900 | −8% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,300 | −11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,000 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,500 | −11% |
San Antonio against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than San Antonio. Laredo comes closest at about $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, TXthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | |
| Austin, TX80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| Laredo, TX125 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +1% |
| Corpus Christi, TX130 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| Killeen, TX130 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| College Station, TX155 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Antonio ranks #277 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Antonio is 4% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +8% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +6% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +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 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Antonio against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +24% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +22% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +17% |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a San Antonio bid
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
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.
San Antonio: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Antonio. 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
$260 to $690
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$580 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$900 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $570 | $480 – $840 | $750 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $690 | $580 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $970 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
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Kitchen backsplash in San Antonio: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in San Antonio?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the San Antonio area. A standard-spec job lands at $580 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 San Antonio?
About $8.70 to $44 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 San Antonio or Austin?
Austin is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 2% more than San Antonio ($790). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Antonio?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $790. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in San Antonio?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in San Antonio?
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 San Antonio area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Antonio expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
San Antonio is 4% 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 San Antonio?
The BLS median is $21.48 an hour in the San Antonio area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.28 to $23.25.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in San Antonio?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $690 and premium work $900 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near San Antonio
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.