How Much Does Installing a Marble Backsplash Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $900 - $3,500
Adding a marble backsplash to your home costs an average of $2,200, but pricing can go anywhere from $600 to $6,000 depending on the type of marble and labor costs.
Marble is one of the most fashionable types of backsplash materials with a rather wide price range. On average, prices start around $20 per square foot and go up to $130 per square foot. For a standard-sized backsplash, this comes out to $2,200, though most homeowners will pay between $900 and $3,500 depending on the specific marble type they choose and the backsplash’s area.
Whether you're a reality-show-worthy home chef or a takeout champion, your kitchen style is an opportunity to invest in the finest materials. Marble backsplashes check all the boxes: durable, unique, and easy to match with your countertops or pristine white cabinets.
- Average
- $2,200
- Low end
- $600
- high end
- $6,000
Marble Backsplash Cost Breakdown
There are many pieces of the puzzle to consider when budgeting for your marble backsplash. But don't let this deter you. Let's review the potential lines on your bill when completing the project from start to finish.
Removing the Old Backsplash
If adding a marble backsplash is just one part of your kitchen renovation, remember to account for the costs of removing the old backsplash and hauling away debris. Add between $3 and $6 per square foot for this service.
Finish
For a truly unique look, you may opt for tumbled tiles or a slab with leathered effect. Add between $12 and $40 per square foot in addition to your basic material rate for the extra expense of a specialty finish.
Tile Shape and Layout
More complex tile shapes and backsplash layouts will likely increase the cost as they require more cutting and attention to detail. It also takes longer to apply the backsplash grout on complicated designs.
Labor
Transporting, sculpting, and sealing marble is also no small feat, adding to the labor cost to install a marble backsplash compared to other materials. You'll pay between $40 and $60 per hour for tile installation. If your contractor charges by size, expect between $10 and $30 per square foot.
You will also have the option between tile marble backsplashes—which are a bit easier to install, and thus less expensive—and single slab marble backsplashes, a trickier endeavor to cut and position. Additionally, if you opt for unique tile shapes or backsplash patterns, you may pay more for labor.
Materials
You can choose between marble tile or slabs, though working with slabs will cost more in both the material and the labor.
| Marble Tile Material | Labor | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $200–$3,000 | $300–$350 | $500–$3,450 |
| Marble Slab Material | Labor | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200–$9,000 | $600–$900 | $1,800–$9,900 |
The standard size of a kitchen backsplash is 30 square feet, with material costs varying based on whether you install a tile or slab backsplash. Tiles are attached individually as well as easier to shape and transport.Slab backsplashes, on the other hand, are cut to size to sculpt around your outlets, the curve of your kitchen wall, and sometimes to blend right into your countertops.
“When you do a backsplash, you need to do some work on all of the electrical outlets that are affected,” says Tschudi. “To make the switch plates work, we use outlet extenders and other products to make the final product perfect.”
How Much Does a Marble Backsplash Cost Per Square Foot?
The easiest way to calculate your new backsplash installation cost is by square footage. Sure, your contract may charge an additional base fee for labor or change by the hour, but they often charge by the square foot to cover all their bases.
As mentioned above, the average cost of materials plus labor ranges between $20 and $130 per square foot on average. However, highly precious marble is an outlier, and you'll find per-foot rates as high as $300 per square foot with higher labor costs of about $30 per square foot.
“We always do kitchen backsplashes, as the wow factor always justifies the cost,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Review Board Member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC. “A marble backsplash turns an ordinary kitchen into an experience. We did a kitchen with very expensive tiles from Ephesus, Greece, and the result was not only a great backsplash, but something that our client could talk about.”
Marble Variety by Square Foot
The type of marble you choose will have the largest effect on your bottom line. Here are some of the most common average per-square-foot costs for each type of common marble.
| Variety | Cost |
|---|---|
| Makrana | $12 per square foot |
| Pink | $25 per square foot |
| Carrara | $40 per square foot |
| Statuatrio | $50 per square foot |
| Cultured | $65 per square foot |
| Travertine | $75 per square foot |
| Danby | $80 per square foot |
| Calacatta | $180 per square foot |
Marble Finish by Square Foot
Let's say that you choose a white Carrara marble tile to line the back of your sink and countertops, but want to give the tiles a bit of a weathered or polished look. Finishes either add shine, texture, or unique shape to the edges of your tiles or marble slab. This service may come at an extra cost on top of the material base rate and cost of labor.
Here are the costs to add to your final bill for special finishes:
| Finish | Cost |
|---|---|
| Caressed | $30–$35 per square foot |
| Honed | $10–$40 per square foot |
| Leathered | $20–$30 per square foot |
| Tuscan | $12–$40 per square foot |
| Tumbled | $150–$40 per square foot |
Marble Backsplash Ongoing Expenses
There aren't many ongoing expenses related to marble backsplashes, especially if it's well maintained. Caring for a marble backsplash involves cleaning and sealing it every so often. Marble sealers cost about $100 and can be purchased online or at most hardware stores.
When cleaning a marble backsplash, avoid abrasive cleaners that can damage the marble. Get natural or plant-based cleaners, and wipe down the backsplash regularly. Clean up stains as quickly as possible, using hydrogen peroxide mixed with ammonia for wine and coffee stains and mineral spirits for erasing oil-based stains.
Proper maintenance can help prevent damage, but if your marble backsplash is chipped, it will cost between $10 and $40 per square foot to repair it. If you need to have a professional remove your backsplash, it’ll cost between $3 and $6 per square foot.
Cost of Common Backsplash Add-Ons
When you work with a kitchen remodeler, they’ll offer a large variety of services to help create your dream kitchen. These projects range in price from a few hundred additional dollars to tens of thousands.
Here are a few add-ons kitchen remodelers may offer when installing a marble backsplash:
Countertop installation: $1,900–$4,400
Sink replacement: $200–$650
Kitchen faucet installation: $160–$365
Refacing kitchen cabinets: $4,500–$10,600
Kitchen island installation: $3,000–$5,000
Installing a Marble Backsplash Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
We'll be straight with you: Working with marble is not an easy or recommended task. If you want to cut and install a slab backsplash, this DIY is a no-go. Marble slabs for the average backsplash will weigh up to 200 pounds, and if you drop it, there is a good chance it will chip or break.
Installing marble tile is more plausible, but only cost-effective if you already have the tools and supplies. If not, the cost of backer board, spacers, caulk, grout, trowel, float, and saw rental can cost around $300 before the cost of materials.
Lay the two project costs side by side, and they're about the same. If the cost of hiring a local kitchen remodeling contractor is $10 per square foot for a 30-square-foot backsplash, then it is about the same as the cost of tools and supplies for the DIY project. Additionally, contractors often have exclusive access to bulk prices for marble slabs and tiles.
5 Ways You Can Save Money on a Marble Backsplash
If sticker shock scares you away from your marble backsplash dreams, remember that there are some ways to keep things under control.
1. Find the Right Pro
Just like any home contractor, working with the best local backsplash installer will save you money in both the short and long run. Speak with at least three local tile installers to compare estimates and what they include in the price. A great tile installer or local kitchen remodeler can look at your unique space and suggest the best type of backsplash material and layout.
2. Opt for Tile
Choosing tile over a slab of marble may be an obvious tip, but costs significantly vary both for materials and labor. Also, if part of your backsplash does become damaged or stained in the future, you can replace a single tile with ease.
3. Consider an Imitation
There are more budget-friendly backsplash options that look like marble, but don't come with the same price tag. For example, consider peel-and-stick "marble" tiles, repurposed tile in a mosaic, or ceramic tile that imitates the marble pattern.
4. Consider Lower-Cost Marble
Rather than picking the most expensive marble, look at lower-priced materials like Makrana. Avoid high-end marbles like Danby and Calacatta, no matter how beautiful.
5. Go Second-Hand
Many stores offer recycled marble materials at a substantial discount. These stores—like the Habitat for Humanity’s Restore—take donations from home tear-downs and remodels. The materials are often in good shape and can easily be reused for a discount price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Much like granite, as long as you properly seal your marble slab or tiles, it makes an excellent stain-resistant option for backsplashes. Marble is also durable, heat-resistant, and, of course, stylish. However, since marble is one of the priciest materials available, you may want to consider a less-expensive backsplash option, such as tile.
The backsplash will take up a fair amount of your kitchen wall, so it's important to consider your cabinet colors, countertop materials, and kitchen paint colors. White marble backsplashes can open up a space and reflect light, but keep in mind that each piece of marble is unique, so you may not get consistency throughout the room.
You can install backsplash on kitchen drywall, as long as you ensure your drywall is clean and dry before you apply the tiles. Your kitchen walls should be made of green board drywall, which is moisture-resistant. If you don’t have green board where your new backsplash will go, you should swap it out.