How much does it cost to have a tile backsplash installed?

National baseline, before Boston adjustments: Install Tile Backsplash typically costs $28.31-$49.77 per sq ft. Your final price depends on project size, site conditions, and finish level.

What's the average cost for tile backsplash materials?

National baseline, before Boston adjustments: Material costs for install tile backsplash usually run $12.74-$22.40 per sq ft. Product grade and finish selection drive most of that spread.

How much does labor cost for a tile backsplash installation?

National baseline, before Boston adjustments: Labor for install tile backsplash usually runs $9.91-$17.42 per sq ft. Access, prep work, and installation complexity drive the labor range.

What other costs are involved in a tile backsplash project?

National baseline, before Boston adjustments: Additional costs for install tile backsplash usually come from supplies at $3.40-$5.97 per sq ft; equipment at $2.26-$3.98 per sq ft. These items vary with prep, cleanup, and site conditions.

Are there ways to save money on a tile backsplash installation?

National baseline, before Boston adjustments: Professional pricing for install tile backsplash usually lands between $28.31-$49.77 per sq ft. Labor alone is about $9.91-$17.42 per sq ft, so DIY only makes sense if you can handle the prep and finish quality yourself.

Kitchen corner with a travertine tile backsplash and mosaic accent band under oak cabinets above a granite counter.

Photo: granite-charlotte · CC BY 2.0 · Source

How Much Does Install Tile Backsplash Cost in Boston, Massachusetts?

Install Tile Backsplash: national installed price range, materials and labor breakdown, and local pricing by ZIP code.

Install Tile Backsplash in Boston, Massachusetts typically costs $31 to $54 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.

Install Tile Backsplash in Boston, Massachusetts

$31 – $54

per sq ft

Prices in Boston are 14.0% higher than the national average for install tile backsplash.

National average: $28 – $50 per sq ft

What you get at each price level

Basic
$26 – $46 per sq ft
3x6 in. white glazed ceramic subway tile in running bond on thinset, white grout, caulked at the counter and edges
Photo: Smtzzz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
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Standard
$31 – $54 per sq ft
3x12 in. glazed ceramic tile in soft gray-green, offset lay, color-matched grout, metal edge trim
Rendering: BuildX
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Premium
$39 – $68 per sq ft
Honed travertine tile with a mosaic stone-and-glass accent band, stain-resistant color-matched grout, metal edge profiles, sealed
Photo: granite-charlotte · CC BY 2.0 · Source
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Cost Breakdown in Boston

Component	Category	Price Range	Unit
Materials	material	$13 – $22	sq ft
Labor	labor	$13 – $22	sq ft
Supplies & Other	supplies	$3.40 – $5.97	sq ft
Equipment & Disposal	equipment	$2.26 – $3.98	sq ft

Prices adjusted for Boston local market conditions.

Install Tile Backsplash photo examples

Green glazed ceramic subway tile backsplash with an outlet above a dark countertop
Photo: Capdevielle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
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Diagonal travertine tile backsplash with accent strip above a dark granite counter
Photo: granite-charlotte · CC BY 2.0 · Source
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White diagonal tile backsplash behind a black range in a maple kitchen
Photo: granite-charlotte · CC BY 2.0 · Source
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Beige tile backsplash with dark diamond accents around a gas cooktop
Photo: granite-charlotte · CC BY 2.0 · Source
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Design styles

See how install tile backsplash looks in each style, with photos of real projects by working designers.

Boston style: New England traditional and transitional

Boston's Colonials, Capes and brownstones keep traditional millwork, paneled walls and period details, and recent renovations move them toward transitional with earth tones and cleaner lines. Very little local work is fully modern.

Photos of the styles Boston draws from.

Built from

Traditional bathroom
Photo: Angela Rennie Design · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Jennifer Taylor Design · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Jo Lyle & Co. · Profile
Traditional bathroom: Modern Glamour Bath
Photo: Kaelyn Schmidt Design
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Studio Catherine Rose · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Studio Palindrome · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Studio Steidley · Profile
Traditional kitchen
Photo: Cabana Home · Profile
Traditional kitchen
Photo: Cielo Home · Profile

Cost Factors in Boston, Massachusetts

What Affects Pricing

Materials ($12.74-$22.40 per square foot)
Labor ($9.91-$17.42 per square foot)
Supplies & Other ($28.31-$49.77 per square foot)
Equipment & Disposal ($28.31-$49.77 per square foot)

Local Price Adjustments

Material costsAt national average

Labor costs27.0% above avg

Labor costs in Boston run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How we price this

BuildX Pro researches and reviews the national price range for Install Tile Backsplash, then adjusts it to your ZIP code for local labor and material costs using the public data below. Last checked Sep 2026.

Construction wages by metro and rural area, used for the labor adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Regional price parities for goods, used for the materials adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

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More Cost Intelligence for Boston

Install Tile Backsplash: national cost guide All Boston cost guides

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