Cost to Install a Tile Backsplash – 2021

| Last Updated: August 23, 2021

National Average Improvement and Repair Cost

Pro

DIY

Hours:

4.6

8.5

Cost:

$ 383

$ 185

Would you do this project? According to our survey, 32% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.

Photo credit: mydomaine.com

The average price to Install a Tile Backsplash noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

How much does it cost to tile a backsplash? A tiling contractor charges $383 to install a ceramic tile backsplash and you can do it yourself for $185 and save 51 percent. 

Nothing does a better or more stylish job than a tile backsplash to protect the wall behind a kitchen counter. The hard surface is easy to clean and maintain the space below wall-hung cabinets where they meet the countertop, often prone to splashes of food or sauce during food preparation.

With today’s wide selection of tile colors, sizes, and designs available, the choice can be staggering and sure to enhance any kitchen whether you choose a plain no-nonsense design or want to create a colorful focal point.

To install a 10-foot-long, 2-foot-high ceramic tile backsplash a tile contractor will charge $383, which includes the material and labor. You can buy the materials and do it yourself for $185 and save 51 percent.

An alternative to using traditional mortar or mastic is BonderaTM a tile adhesive on a roll to set the tiles. After the installation, apply a grout sealer to protect it. Use a small paintbrush to apply it following the recommendations of the manufacturer.

While you’ll see plenty of tiles at home centers, you’ll find a larger and more diverse selection at a tile retailer, where you can rent or borrow some of the installation tools, including a tile cutter and nippers, a rubber float, and trowel.

To help you visualize the effect in the room, buy sample tiles or use cut-up colored paper cut to the size of tile you plan to use. But first, work on paper or with a design tool to create the pattern using a measured drawing of the area to be tiled.

The average price to install a tile backsplash noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

Welcome! We hope you’ll find the job costs of home improvement projects useful when you’re deciding whether to do a job yourself vs. hire a contractor. We’re the authors of 20 home improvement books, most notably Home Improvement for Dummies©, Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies©, Carpentry for Dummies©, Plumbing for Dummies©, and Painting and Wallpapering for Dummies©. Our most recent book Fix It and Flip It is in its second edition. We’ve appeared as home improvement experts on television programs such as CNN, Dateline, the Today Show, HGTV and many others.