A kitchen backsplash is one of the smallest tile jobs we do and one of the most visible — it’s at eye level every single day. In Boise, a standard tile backsplash install typically runs $650–$1,100. Here’s what moves that number, and what a good one looks like a decade later.
What the price covers
Labor, setting materials, and grout for a standard kitchen run — usually the wall between counter and upper cabinets, around 25–35 square feet. Tile itself varies a lot: a basic subway tile keeps you at the low end, while handmade, large-format, or natural stone tile pushes material cost up. Layout matters too — a straight stack or running bond is faster than herringbone, and every outlet, switch, and window cut adds time.
What pushes it up
- Demo: pulling an old backsplash (especially one glued to drywall) can add drywall repair before the new tile goes up.
- Tile choice: intricate patterns and small mosaics take longer to set than large-format tile.
- Outlets and edges: more cuts, more time. Finished edge trim vs. a raw tile edge also changes the look and the labor.
- Waterproofing behind the sink and stove: not always needed for a backsplash, but worth doing right where steam and splashes hit daily.
The 10-year test
We installed a tile backsplash in a Boise-area kitchen 10 years ago. It still looks like it did the week it went in — no cracked grout, no loose tiles, no staining around the stove. That’s the difference prep and setting materials make: a backsplash that survives a decade of daily cooking isn’t luck, it’s a properly set tile job. Photos of that kitchen are on our tile installation page.
Backsplash vs. full shower tile
Backsplashes are the small end of tile work. Full tile showers run $1,900–$3,200 — waterproofing, pan, and a lot more square footage. If you’re pricing both, the shower is where the budget goes; the backsplash is the quick win that changes the whole kitchen. We broke down shower pricing in our tile shower cost guide.
FAQ
How much does a tile backsplash cost in Boise? Typically $650–$1,100 installed for a standard kitchen run. Tile choice, layout complexity, and demo are the main variables.
How long does a backsplash install take? Most standard backsplashes are a day’s work, plus grout cure time. Demo or drywall repair can add a day.
Does a backsplash need waterproofing? Behind the sink and stove, good setting materials and sealed grout handle daily splashes. Full waterproofing membranes are for showers, not backsplashes.
Can you tile over an existing backsplash? Sometimes, if it’s flat, solid, and well-bonded. Usually it’s cleaner — and longer-lasting — to remove the old tile and start on a sound surface.
Get an exact number for your kitchen: run the size through our flooring cost calculator or request a quote through the site. Call Boise Home Flooring at (986) 273-5409. We install across Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Kuna, and Caldwell.
Boise Home Flooring, a division of Boise Epoxy Flooring Co. LLC — licensed and insured, Treasure Valley local, 18 years in the trades. Flooring install, tile, baseboards and trim.