Kitchen backsplash cost in Richmond, 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
- $9.30 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #151
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Richmond, VA usually costs $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.30 to $47 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $55 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $24.10 an hour in the Richmond area, 10% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Richmond, VA, standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Richmond, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $340 | $540 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Richmond prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Richmond wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Richmond 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 97.9: $0 to $0.
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Richmond
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.
Richmond: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Richmond. 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 $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 | $520 – $890 | $800 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
What nearby projects cost in Richmond
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Richmond wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−5%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,100 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,900 | −7% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,450 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,400 – $21,900 | −6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,650 | −5% |
What local crews earn in Richmond
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 Richmond the blend is 0.90.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $24.10 an hour, 10% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $29.59 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 1.8 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 $24.94 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.42 and $28.84 an hour. About 3,070 work in the metro. That is 46.5 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $80. That is a swing of roughly 9.6% to 8.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Richmond has 660,350 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 45th 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% | $17.66 | $24.10 | $29.59 | $26.77 | 0.90 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.42 | $24.94 | $28.84 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Is Richmond cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $810 to $890 across Richmond and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VAthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Virginia Beach, VA70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Charlottesville, VA75 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Lexington Park, MD80 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Lynchburg, VA95 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Washington, DC100 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | +5% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Richmond ranks #151 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Richmond is 2% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Richmond against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −6% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +11% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Richmond: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Richmond?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Richmond 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 Richmond?
About $9.30 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 Richmond or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 4% less than Richmond ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Richmond?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $840. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Richmond?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Richmond?
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 Richmond area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Richmond expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Virginia?
Richmond is 2% 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 Richmond?
The BLS median is $24.10 an hour in the Richmond area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.66 to $29.59.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Richmond?
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 Richmond
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.