Kitchen backsplash cost in Virginia Beach, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.90 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #213
- 1 = most expensive
Virginia Beach homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.90 to $45.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Virginia Beach is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.76 an hour in the Virginia Beach area, 19% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Virginia Beach, VA, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $380 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Virginia Beach, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $310 | $490 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Virginia Beach number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Virginia Beach wages are 0.82 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Virginia Beach 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 (97.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Virginia Beach
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Virginia Beach 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Is Virginia Beach cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Virginia Beach. Greenville is the lowest at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VAthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Richmond, VA70 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Lexington Park, MD100 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC135 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Charlottesville, VA145 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Virginia Beach comes in at #213 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Virginia Beach is 5% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Virginia Beach's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Virginia Beach against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +13% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
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 Virginia Beach is 0.82 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $21.76 an hour, which is 19% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.24 and $27.91 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 2.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.76 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $29.02 an hour. BLS counts 4,020 of them working in the area, 52.7 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 ($27.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($17.24) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 9.5% or 7.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 763,060 jobs in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area. That makes it the 40th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.49% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.24 | $21.76 | $27.91 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.13 | $24.76 | $29.02 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Virginia Beach
Because every project leans on different trades, Virginia Beach's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and tile flooring −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,900 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,200 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $840 – $2,600 | −7% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Virginia Beach
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.
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Kitchen backsplash in Virginia Beach: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Virginia Beach?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Virginia Beach area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 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 Virginia Beach?
About $8.90 to $45.50 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 Virginia Beach or Richmond?
Richmond is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $840, which is 4% more than Virginia Beach ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Virginia Beach?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $810. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Virginia Beach?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Virginia Beach?
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 Virginia Beach area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Virginia Beach expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Virginia?
Virginia Beach is 5% 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 Virginia Beach?
The BLS median is $21.76 an hour in the Virginia Beach area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.24 to $27.91.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Virginia Beach?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Virginia Beach
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.