Kitchen backsplash cost in Roanoke, 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
- #166
- 1 = most expensive
Roanoke homeowners pay roughly $280 to $1,400 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.20 to $46.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Roanoke is 7% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.50 an hour in the Roanoke area, 12% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Roanoke, 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 Roanoke, 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 Roanoke number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Roanoke 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.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Roanoke metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.6) 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 Roanoke. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Roanoke?
Because every project leans on different trades, Roanoke's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and kitchen cabinets −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,400 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,550 | −11% |
Roanoke against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlottesville is the priciest of the group at $840. Winston is the cheapest at $820.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VAthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Blacksburg, VA35 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Lynchburg, VA40 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Winston, NC85 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Charlottesville, VA85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC90 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
| Virginia (statewide) | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Roanoke comes in at #166 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Roanoke is 3% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| 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% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Roanoke's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Roanoke against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Killeen, TX | 150,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Roanoke
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Roanoke 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 $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 |
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 Roanoke is 0.87 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Roanoke 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.62 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.19 and $26.78 an hour. BLS counts 830 of them working in the area, 53.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($18.35) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 9.5% or 7.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 153,980 jobs in the Roanoke area. That makes it the 153rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% 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% | $19.19 | $22.62 | $26.78 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Roanoke
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $610 to $1,050 for Roanoke, VA is attached.
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The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Roanoke, VA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in Roanoke: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Roanoke?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Roanoke 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 Roanoke?
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 Roanoke or Blacksburg?
Blacksburg is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $830, which is 0% more than Roanoke ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Roanoke?
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 Roanoke?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Roanoke?
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 Roanoke area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Roanoke expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Virginia?
Roanoke 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 Roanoke?
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 Roanoke?
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 Roanoke
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.