How Much Does It Cost to Install Kitchen Backsplash?

A beautiful kitchen can work wonders for just about any type of home. Preparing your favorite treats inside a gorgeous kitchen is a delightful experience unlike any other. If you’re interested in redesigning your home kitchen, don’t forget to do something about the ever-present backsplash.

The backsplash is a kitchen element that’s highly visible so elevating its design will be crucial to your remodeling plans. You can change the tiles that make up the backsplash to create something more visually intriguing and easy to clean. Also, consider changing the way the tiles are laid out to create some interesting patterns.

Installing a new kitchen backsplash involves getting new tiles and they cost an average of $30 per square foot. A professional tile setter can install your new backsplash for $400. The cost of installation can change depending on the pattern you choose. You will also have to pay extra if some existing fixtures and wires could complicate installation.

You’ll be amazed by how big of a difference a new backsplash can make inside your kitchen. Homeowners interested in reinventing their kitchens need to pay more attention to the backsplash. Learn more about how much installing a new kitchen backsplash will cost by reading through the rest of this article.

At $30 per square foot, aluminum is on the pricier side if you need new kitchen backsplash tiles. It’s tough to justify paying that much given the limitations on using aluminum.

The main issue with using aluminum is that the heat can get to it. The aluminum tiles could melt if they are constantly exposed to high temperatures. You can use aluminum tiles if you want, but they cannot be placed near your stove or anything that produces heat.

Still, some homeowners will use aluminum because they like its luster. You can also create some pretty interesting patterns with aluminum.

The next option we want to highlight is beadboard. You can get beadboard for your backsplash at the cost of $13 per square foot.

Beadboard is typically made by placing strips of wood over large boards. When you create a kitchen backsplash using beadboard, it almost looks like a bunched-in picket fence panel.

It’s easy to clean beadboard backsplashes as long as they are painted and sealed. You can usually just wipe away any liquids that hit them. Beadboard tiles are also remarkably easy to install.

Compared to other material options, beadboard is not especially durable. You will likely have to replace it sooner than you would backsplashes that were made from other materials.

Brick is another cost-effective option for budget-conscious homeowners. The bricks you’ll need will cost $15 per square foot.

Using brick to build your kitchen backsplash can present some challenges. Brick’s appearance is not that versatile so you have limited looks to experiment with. You also have to be wary of making contact with the brick because you could chip away at it.

Even so, the appearance of brick is so distinctive that more than a few homeowners will inevitably be drawn to it. Feel free to build a brick backsplash if you want to try that unique look.

Are you familiar with those subway tiles that are often used to create kitchen backsplashes? Those are made using ceramic tiles. The ceramic tiles you’ll need to create that stylish backsplash cost $20 per square foot.

To be clear, you don’t have to go with the subway pattern if you’re installing ceramic tiles. They come in numerous colors and sizes so you should be able to create a wide variety of backsplashes.

Ceramic tiles are more demanding in terms of maintenance. Make sure you know about the maintenance required before you proceed to install those ceramic tiles.

Glass backsplashes are popular among homeowners who prefer a more modern design. The glass tiles you’ll need to create that kind of backsplash cost $25 per square foot.

You have to be careful when deciding where to install the glass backsplash. Don’t install it in a spot where the sunlight will likely hit it. The glass could concentrate sunlight onto certain spots. If there’s food occupying one of those spots, it could spoil quickly.

Although glass is prone to shattering, glass backsplashes are still pretty durable. They can remain fixtures in your kitchen for a long time.

Granite is an expensive choice for a kitchen backsplash. Those granite tiles cost $60 per square foot.

Since granite is considered a premium material, the high price tag should not come as a surprise. Homeowners are still willing to meet that price because they love the appearance of granite.

Note that you’ll have to spend a lot of money not just on acquiring the granite tiles. Installing them will also be costly because granite is a difficult material to work with. You’ll have to decide if a granite backsplash is worth all that money.

Marble is another high-end option for homeowners who want a stylish kitchen backsplash. It’s also cheaper than granite. A new marble backsplash will cost $40 per square foot.

You cannot go wrong with using marble in the kitchen. Building a marble backsplash makes even more sense if you already have the marble countertops to go with it.

Do note that marble requires diligent maintenance. You have to properly maintain its seal if you want to preserve its appearance. Fail to keep the marble sealed and it can get stained. The backsplash you paid for may end up looking very different if stains permeate the marble.

The cost of building a porcelain backsplash may surprise you. Realistically, you may only have to pay $10 per square foot if you want a new porcelain backsplash. It will take time to find porcelain tiles that are that cheap, but it is doable.

Your options are somewhat limited if you’re planning to use porcelain. They don’t come in as many colors as your other material options.

Porcelain backsplashes can still be great value buys even with their lack of design versatility. You can expect your porcelain backsplash to remain a fixture in your kitchen for years to come.

You will have to pay top dollar if you want to install a quartz backsplash inside your remodeled kitchen. Quartz is priced at $65 per square foot so make sure you like how it looks before you finalize the purchase.

Is quartz worth that kind of price tag? That’s something you will have to decide for yourself.

Quartz certainly possesses qualities that make it a good choice to use inside the kitchen. Aside from how beautiful quartz is, it’s also a material that can be easily cleaned. Installing a quartz backsplash is also easier compared to backsplashes made from other materials.

Do you want a kitchen backsplash made from stainless steel? A new stainless steel backsplash will cost $35 per square foot.

You can argue that installing a stainless steel backsplash makes the most sense for the kitchen. Things can get very messy in the kitchen. You don’t want to devote too much of your time to just cleaning in there.

Installing a stainless steel backsplash will help you cut down on the amount of cleaning you have to do. Repairing a stainless steel backsplash is also easy. That should come in handy as it ages in place.

Tin is not a widely used material for kitchen backsplashes, but it can be a good choice. You’re also getting a good deal with tin as it only costs $20 per square foot.

Early on, you may have a hard time envisioning how tin will fit into your kitchen. It features such a distinctive look that building around it can present a real challenge.

Once you’ve come up with a design scheme that can highlight the beauty of tin, it can become a great addition to your kitchen. The fact that tin cleans up so easily is just another reason to like it.

Last up, you can also opt to install a kitchen backsplash made using travertine tiles. A travertine backsplash costs $18 per square foot.

Travertine is a versatile material from an aesthetic standpoint. You can treat and/or finish the travertine in certain ways to create varied looks. Even leaving its appearance mostly untouched is an option since it’s naturally beautiful.

Travertine can also be troublesome. It will require a lot of maintenance if you intend to use it in your kitchen. Remember that before deciding if you want a travertine backsplash inside what is often a messy part of the home.

As with many home improvement projects, you’ll have to decide if you should install the backsplash solo or enlist professional assistance. For this type of project, you’ll be better off paying $400 for professional installation.

Working with the tiles necessary for this kind of project will not be easy. You’ll have to cut them down to the right size and position them properly. Those may sound like relatively simple tasks, but they can be difficult if you’ve never handled them before.

Related Questions

What Is the Easiest Backsplash to Install?

Among the options we talked about in this article, beadboard tiles are the easiest to install. However, other items require less effort to install.Peel-and-stick tiles are unlike conventional tiles, but they will change the look of your kitchen. They also wear down quickly so you’ll need to replace them often.

Can I Install a Backsplash by Myself?

Installing a new backsplash solo is not recommended, but you can do it if you want. Stick mostly to using beadboard and peel-and-stick tiles if you’d prefer not to hire any professionals.Those tiles are easy to work with. They are also affordable so you can replace them quickly if you make a mistake during installation.

Do I Need a Backer Board for a Kitchen Backsplash?

No, installing a backer board underneath your kitchen backsplash will not be necessary. Installing a backer board is only required if the spot in question will be consistently exposed to running water. You can install the backsplash tiles directly over the drywall with no issue.