How much does Backsplash tile installation cost?

Adding tile to your bathroom or kitchen backsplash—that is, the panel behind your sink or stove—is a simple way to add beauty and style to your home. It’s a low-maintenance home improvement project that protects the wall from water or grease splatters.

While some homeowners may be tempted to install the tile themselves, DIYers often find that it’s difficult to do this properly. Achieving a beautiful-looking result requires time, patience, and specialized skills. Professional tile installers have the tools and experience needed to install tiles evenly and attractively, work with irregularly shaped areas and tiles, and create a tile surface that won’t break or crack over time. 

When you look for a tile installer, make sure they’re properly licensed, certified, and insured. Check their references, online reviews, and portfolio of similar jobs.  Other positive signs include membership in the National Tile Contractors Association or training by the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation.

Whether you’re just putting in new tile or planning a full bathroom or kitchen remodel, this cost guide will help you determine the price.

Learn more: How to install bathroom tiles (or hire a pro).

The national average cost to purchase and install 16 square feet of backsplash tile is about $1,000, or approximately $62 per square foot. Specific prices depend on tile size, type, and quality. 

Most professional backsplash tile installers charge by the size of the area to be covered. Those labor costs, which will be figured into the total price, average about $10 per square foot, or $160 for each 16-square-foot area. 

Other contractors bill according to their time, at an average cost of $40–60 per hour. Because it’s labor-intensive work, even small jobs can take at least 2 days. 

You’ll pay about $25–60 per square foot (sq. ft), or $400–960 per 16 square feet, for the tile material itself. Here are the prices for specific kinds of tile: 

Your tile backsplash installation bill may also include the cost of various hardware items, such as fabrication and polishing materials, underlayment, adhesives, cement backer board, spacers, grout, and surface sealants. Total material cost: $80–100+.

The following elements can add to the time and difficulty of the job, which will increase the price. 

There are several possible ways to reduce your costs for a kitchen or bathroom backsplash without affecting the quality of the job. 

How much does it cost to remove and replace kitchen backsplash tile?
Removal of backsplash generally costs about $3–6 per square foot. Professional installation of new tile backsplash, with labor and expenses, costs an average of $1,000 per 16 square feet, depending in part on backsplash square footage and the size and type of tile.

How much does it cost in labor to install subway tile backsplash?
Tile backsplash installation costs—including single-color ceramic tiles like the kind you’d find in a subway—can run anywhere from $2–17 per square foot, depending on the job’s size and difficulty.

How much does it cost to rip out backsplash?
The average price to have tile backsplash materials professionally removed is $3–6 per square foot, plus an added fee for disposal. You may face extra costs if the drywall behind the backsplash needs to be replaced.