Your Kitchen Deserves a
Crafted Backsplash.

Labor for a standard kitchen backsplash in the Omaha and Lincoln metro runs roughly $400–$2,200 for most kitchens. Simple ceramic subway tile in a straight layout is at the low end; natural stone, herringbone or chevron patterns, or kitchens with several outlets and inside corners push higher. Demo of existing tile adds cost if needed.

Materials are separate — $3–$8/sq ft for ceramic, $5–$14/sq ft for porcelain, and $12–$25+ for glass or natural stone. A typical 30–40 sq ft kitchen with subway tile usually lands in the $900–$1,600 all-in range. Use our estimator to get a range specific to your project in about 2 minutes.

A typical kitchen backsplash — 25 to 50 square feet, standard pattern — takes 1 to 2 calendar days. Day one is demo (if needed), surface prep, and tile setting. Thinset needs to cure overnight before grouting, so day two is grout, caulk, cleanup, and reinstalling outlet covers.

Complex patterns like herringbone or chevron, or kitchens with heavy detail work, can add time. Most customers go from bare wall to finished backsplash in two days.

We don't — we always demo the existing tile first. Tiling over existing tile throws off outlet box depths, interferes with cabinet edges and window sills, and any debonding in the old layer becomes your new tile's problem too.

Demo gives us a clean, flat, properly prepared surface and it's the only way we can stand behind the finished job. We price demo transparently so there are no surprises.

Both are kiln-fired clay tiles. Porcelain is denser, harder, and less porous — it resists stains and allows tighter grout joints (rectified edges). Ceramic is less expensive ($2–6/sq ft vs. $4–12+ for porcelain), lighter, easier to cut, and comes in more handmade textures.

For a kitchen backsplash, both work fine since tile won't be walked on. Porcelain makes more sense for tight grout joints, floor-to-ceiling installations, or high-grease cooking environments.

Joint width drives the first decision: under 1/8" use unsanded grout; 1/8" and wider use sanded grout. For kitchens, consider epoxy grout for light-colored grout joints — it's non-porous, stain-resistant, and never needs sealing. It costs more but won't absorb cooking grease.

A quality cement grout sealed after installation works well for most applications. We recommend epoxy for white or light grout in active cooking kitchens.

In virtually all cases, no permit is required. Cosmetic tile work — installing or replacing a backsplash — is finish work and doesn't require a building permit in Omaha or Lincoln. You'd need a permit only if the project involved moving plumbing, relocating electrical circuits, or structural work.

In 99% of backsplash jobs, permits aren't part of the conversation.

Mastic is an organic pre-mixed adhesive that works well in dry areas but softens when wet — it should never be used near a sink or in splash zones. Thinset mortar is cementitious, sets hard, and is completely unaffected by water.

For kitchen backsplashes, we use thinset anywhere near the sink, for all stone tile, and typically for the whole job to eliminate any callback risk.

Our estimator walks you through 10 steps: you draw or measure your space, pick your tile type and pattern, and select a few options like edge treatment and surface prep. At the end, you get a real price range based on current Omaha/Lincoln labor rates.

It takes about 2 minutes and no email is required to see your result. The estimate is for planning purposes — exact pricing comes after the free on-site measure.