Kitchen backsplash cost in Virginia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.45 – $48
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 8
Across Virginia, a kitchen backsplash costs about $280 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 5% below the US figure of $900. Tile and stone setters earn a median $23.50 an hour in Virginia (US: $26.77).
Inside Virginia, the metros we cover range from $810 (Virginia Beach) to $840 (Richmond) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Virginia (statewide), standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Virginia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $900 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Virginia
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.
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.
Virginia against its neighbors
Virginia ranks 26 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. Virginia sits at $860. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +9% |
| Maryland | 150 miles away | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | level |
| Delaware | 170 miles away | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +2% |
| North Carolina | 180 miles away | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −6% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 miles away | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +15% |
Other Virginia jobs that often go with kitchen backsplash
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Virginia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−1%) and shower pan lowest (−5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,700 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,700 | −5% |
Virginia metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $860, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −3% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −3% |
| Blacksburg, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −3% |
| Roanoke, VA | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −3% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −5% |
Virginia labor market for kitchen backsplash
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.88 for Virginia.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $23.50 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $18.35 and $29.76 an hour. BLS counts 750 of them working in the state, 1.8 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 $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $29.49 an hour. BLS counts 20,460 of them working in the state, 49.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($29.76 an hour) would add about $80 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.35) would take off about $65. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,109,320 jobs across Virginia (May 2025), which is 2.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $18.35 | $23.50 | $29.76 | $26.77 | 0.88 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.34 | $26.77 | $29.49 | $29.12 | 0.92 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Quality levels and sizes in Virginia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Virginia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$280 to $740
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$630 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$970 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $620 | $520 – $910 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,400 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Virginia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Virginia?
$280 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Virginia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Virginia is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Virginia Beach at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Richmond at $840.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Virginia than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $860 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Virginia?
About 39% ($330). Materials are 61%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Virginia?
The BLS statewide median is $23.50 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.35 to $29.76.
+Where does Virginia rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $860 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Virginia?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $740 and premium work $970 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Virginia
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.