Kitchen backsplash cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $370 – $1,800
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $59.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Seattle, plan on $370 to $1,800 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $12 to $59.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 19% higher than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $38.00 an hour in the Seattle area, 42% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Seattle, WA, standard level
$790 to $1,350
About $26.50 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $700 |
| Labor | $400 | $650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $790 | $1,350 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $940 | 51% |
| Labor | $210 | $530 | $840 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $370 | $1,050 | $1,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Seattle number
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $38.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Seattle is 1.40 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Seattle metro is 104.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $550, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.1) and land at $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Seattle
Because every project leans on different trades, Seattle's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +28% and kitchen remodel +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,500 – $34,900 | +11% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,800 – $16,800 | +18% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,200 – $11,500 | +18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,750 – $28,600 | +23% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,500 | +28% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Seattle bid
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.
Seattle: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Seattle 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
$370 to $930
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$790 to $1,350
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,200 to $1,800
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $310 – $780 | $660 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $370 – $930 | $790 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,800 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $610 – $1,550 | $1,300 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $2,950 |
Seattle labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Seattle is 1.40 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $38.00 an hour, which is 42% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $33.37 and $48.26 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 2.2 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 $36.74 an hour, which is 26% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.64 and $47.93 an hour. BLS counts 14,970 of them working in the area, 71.8 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 ($48.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($33.37) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 12.1% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,086,210 jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. That makes it the 13th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.34% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $33.37 | $38.00 | $48.26 | $26.77 | 1.42 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $30.64 | $36.74 | $47.93 | $29.12 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.40 | |||||
Seattle against nearby metros and the rest of Washington
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 $970 to $1,150 across Seattle and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +5% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | level |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −9% |
| Washington (statewide) | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −16% |
Across 300 US metros, Seattle comes in at #3 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Seattle is 1% above the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −5% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +5% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Seattle's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −5% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −20% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −21% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Seattle?
For 30 sq ft, expect $370 to $1,800 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $790 to $1,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Seattle?
About $12 to $59.50 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 Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,150, which is 5% more than Seattle ($1,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $530 out of $1,050. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Seattle?
$370 to $1,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Seattle?
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 Seattle area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 1% above the Washington statewide estimate ($1,050 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Seattle?
The BLS median is $38.00 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $33.37 to $48.26.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Seattle?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $370 to $930 and premium work $1,200 to $1,800. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Seattle
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.