How Much Does A Kitchen Backsplash Cost?
If you’re looking to make some changes to your kitchen or begin a whole kitchen remodel, one of the best places to start is with the kitchen backsplash. Backsplashes serve a functional purpose, as they protect your walls and surrounding surface areas from messes caused by using the stove, but they have also truly become a design focal point in today’s kitchens.
So how can you get started with adding in a new kitchen backsplash? What is the cost of a new kitchen backsplash? In this article, we go over the basics of adding a new kitchen wall backsplash, including how much you can expect to pay.
How Much Does a Kitchen Backsplash Cost?
According to Fixr.com, the average cost of kitchen backsplash tile (one of the most popular material choices) for 16 square feet is anywhere between $400 and $600. For lower-grade ceramic tiles, the costs shifts down to $300-$400, and for higher quality materials and tiles, you can expect to pay between $650-$1000.
If you are doing any custom work, investing in premium materials, or doing something ornate like a mosaic tile kitchen backsplash, then you may end up paying more than $1,000.
Kitchen Backsplash Cost and Factors
There are a number of factors that affect how much it will cost to install a new kitchen backsplash. Once you have a good idea of your initial budget, take a look at these price factors and plan out where and how you want to spend your money.
Material
Perhaps the most obvious price factor when it comes to your kitchen backsplash is the material you use to create it.
There are several materials you can choose from to create your backsplash, and while tile is the most popular material (and there are many different kinds), there are even more outside the tile realm.
Some of the materials that you can choose from include: glass, ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite and even metal.
Affordable Backsplash Materials & Ideas
If you are on a budget with your backsplash, the best material options for you to consider are porcelain and ceramic tile. Many tile options are very affordable. For example, one of the most popular backsplash and tile options in general, classic subway tile, can cost as little as $2 per square foot!
But you can still get creative with how you assemble your backsplash to be respectful of your budget. For example, you can assemble your kitchen backsplash using classic subway tile, but arrange the tiles in a unique way to achieve a heightened look. Instead of opting for the horizontal overlay design, try a herringbone or chevron pattern.
Or, you can purchase affordable tile in two-to-three different colors and put together a checkerboard pattern. The great thing with tile is you can still end up with a truly unique, high-end looking finished product, even with low-cost materials.
Another way to save money on your backsplash design is by opting for ceramic mosaic tiles using a tile adhesive instead of the traditional mortar and tile approach. This will allow you to save money on materials, as well as installation, as you will be able to install the adhesive yourself in a matter of minutes!
As you search around for different tile options, don’t be afraid to take your time and really shop around. You’ll find no shortage of options at your local home improvement retailer, at a tile specialty store, or online. Plus, by weighing all your different options and potential vendors, you’ll be able to ensure that you get the best possible price.
In today’s market, you can find whatever look you are going for while still being suitable for your price point. Thanks to technology, even ceramic tiles can be designed to resemble a different material like granite or metal. This means you can still get your desired look without having to pay for the more expensive material.
Luxury Backsplash Materials & Ideas
If you have more wiggle room in your budget, you can pursue a luxury backsplash aesthetic in a number of ways. For starters, you can upgrade your materials and consider more expensive options such as marble, granite, and glass. Marble instantly elevates any design, and using it as a backsplash can take your kitchen aesthetic to a new level.
Another luxury backsplash option that’s become more sought after in recent years is stainless steel. A stainless steel backsplash creates an industrial vibe, which can provide a nice contrast against neutral countertops, or further accentuate modern decor. Stainless steel backsplashes also offer the benefit of being scratch resistant, and highly durable – so your money will take you far.
Whether you go with affordable materials or luxury materials, the most important thing to consider when you select your backsplash material is the look and feel you are going for. Do you envision yourself with a brightly colored backsplash to add a pop to a neutral kitchen? Or do you want to keep your backsplash more subdued and understated? Having a strong sense of your design aesthetic to start the process will make your materials search more refined and easier.
Size
Another factor that will definitely affect how much your kitchen backsplash costs is the size. Functionally, your backsplash only needs to cover a relatively small area – just the “splash zone” that surrounds your stove top, to make sure that cooking materials don’t end up on the wall.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to go above and beyond with the size of your backsplash design – you will just have to be prepared to pay more money for the extra material. Size is often overlooked as a customizable element of a backsplash. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, you can craft your perfect backsplash design by thinking outside the box in terms of size and scope.
If you’re investing your money in backsplash tile material that you love, why not show it off and extend the height of the backsplash up the back wall slightly? Or, if you want to do something really different, you can even create a modified aesthetic and extend your backsplash all the way up to the ceiling.
Another option that’s become popular in recent years is tiling not just your backsplash area, but the entire wall where the backsplash is located. With this approach, your backsplash becomes more of an accent wall than a small focal point – unless you then continue to cover all of the kitchen walls with the same backsplash material, which is also an option. And it will certainly make for easy cleanup!
Extending or modifying the size of your backsplash is a great way to customize the look and impact it has within your kitchen. Just be aware that when you go bigger or smaller, the cost of your backsplash will increase or decrease respectively.
Labor
In addition to materials and size, another factor that will affect how much your kitchen backsplash costs is the labor associated with installing it.
To save on labor, you can certainly opt for installing your backsplash on your own. Depending on which kind of tile or material you choose, some backsplashes will be easier to install than others. If your tiles are very small, or if you have a very intricate design in mind, then you are better off enlisting the help of a professional to handle the tile adhesive and grout process. Backsplash installation is a pain to have to redo, and since it’s relatively easy to find an affordable handyman or installation specialist to help you out, it may be worth spending the money. Just make sure you factor the cost of labor into your overall kitchen backsplash project costs.
Customizations
There are multiple ways to custom your backsplash even when you use store-bought materials through design and pattern work alone. But if you want to go the extra mile with customization, you can choose to create custom tiles, or add some further customization to store-bought tiles.
One way to achieve a healthy mix of affordable materials and true customization is installing a focus tile. This is one individual tile, usually either centered in the middle of your design as a focal point or set off to the side almost as a signature piece, that has some sort of special meaning. You can include your family members initials, or some other meaningful inscription, design, or graphic. It’s a touch that will ensure your backsplash is unique to your home.
If you really want to go all out, and have the extra budget to spend, you can enlist the help of a tile or mosaic artist to draft up a custom design for you. This will not be a cheap endeavor, but it can definitely be worth the investment – just make sure you have plans to reside in your home for a long time to come, so you don’t regret investing in a custom backsplash.
Why Spend Money on a Kitchen Backsplash?
When it comes to making your kitchen truly unique and original, a well-orchestrated backsplash can serve as a real exclamation point to your overall design. Best of all, adding a backsplash to an outdated kitchen is a simple home improvement that adds major home value when it’s time to sell.
Due to its central placement, a well-done backsplash can really bring your overall kitchen design together and define your overall theme. It can accentuate countertops, make your appliances pop, bring out the undertones of your decor, match your wall paint color – or completely contrast against it. That’s the great thing about backsplashes – there’s no formula to follow, and no set of rules. You can really think outside the box. Or you can choose to create something simple, elegant and neutral. The choice is totally up to you.
So while a backsplash may seem like a trivial aspect of your kitchen, or simply a functional piece to protect your walls, it can end up being so much more than that. Determine how much money you can comfortably spend on your new backsplash, and get to creating a lasting and memorable piece of your home.
