Kitchen backsplash cost in Blacksburg, VA
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
- $9.20 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #165
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Blacksburg area: $280 to $1,400 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 7% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.50 an hour in the Blacksburg area, 12% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Blacksburg, VA, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $250 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Blacksburg, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $520 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Blacksburg number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Blacksburg wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Blacksburg is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $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 Blacksburg. The wage table below marks each row.
Blacksburg against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charleston is the priciest of the group at $840. Winston is the cheapest at $820.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VAthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Roanoke, VA35 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Winston, NC75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Lynchburg, VA75 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Greensboro, NC85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
| Charleston, WV95 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Blacksburg ranks #165 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Blacksburg is 3% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Blacksburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $290 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +23% |
Who does the work: Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg the blend is 0.87.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Blacksburg metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median: $23.50 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.35 and $29.76 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.87 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $27.26 an hour. About 340 work in the metro. That is 45.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 7.8% to 9.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford has 74,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 248th 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% | $18.35 | $23.50 | $29.76 | $26.77 | 0.88 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $19.38 | $22.87 | $27.26 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Blacksburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Blacksburg. 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
$280 to $720
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$950 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $510 – $880 | $790 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $950 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Blacksburg wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,300 | −11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,400 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Blacksburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Blacksburg?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Blacksburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 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 Blacksburg?
About $9.20 to $46.50 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 Blacksburg or Roanoke?
Roanoke is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $830, which is 0% less than Blacksburg ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Blacksburg?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $830. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Blacksburg?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Blacksburg?
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 Blacksburg area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Blacksburg expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Virginia?
Blacksburg is 3% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($860 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Blacksburg?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.50 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.35 to $29.76.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Blacksburg?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $720 and premium work $950 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Blacksburg
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.