What's Included
A standard kitchen splashback tiling job covers:
- Removal of old splashback material if applicable (old tiles, glass panel, paint)
- Wall preparation (cleaning, priming, levelling if needed)
- Supply and installation of splashback tiles to AS 3958:2023
- Cutouts around power points, switches, and window reveals
- Grouting and silicone sealing along the benchtop edge and at wall junctions
- Cleanup and disposal of offcuts
Materials (tiles, adhesive, grout, silicone) typically account for 30–50% of the total cost, with tiles being the largest variable. Labour makes up the balance, driven primarily by the number of cuts, cutouts, and pattern complexity. A tiler working on a splashback spends a disproportionate amount of time on precision cutting compared to open-area tiling like floors or full bathroom walls.
The benchtop must be installed before the splashback. Tiles sit on top of the benchtop surface and are cut to meet it. If you are getting both a new benchtop and splashback, the cabinetry and benchtop must go in first. Coordinate your trades accordingly.
Splashback Tile Types Compared
The tile you choose is the single biggest cost driver. A basic ceramic subway tile and a handmade zellige tile of the same area can differ in cost by three to four times.
| Tile Type | Material Cost/m2 | Installed Cost/m2 | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic subway (75x150, 100x200, 100x300mm) | $25–$60/m2 | $80–$140/m2 | Budget to mid-range, suits every kitchen style | Stocked at Beaumont Tiles, National Tiles, and Bunnings. Quick to lay in brick bond. The default Australian splashback tile. |
| Porcelain subway and feature | $40–$120/m2 | $100–$180/m2 | Mid-range, more durable than ceramic | Harder body, lower water absorption. Better behind cooktops. Available at all major tile retailers. |
| Large-format porcelain (600x600, 600x1200mm) | $50–$150/m2 | $120–$220/m2 | Modern, minimal grout lines | Fewer grout lines mean easier cleaning. Requires flat substrate. Heavier, so wall adhesive must be rated for weight. |
| Glass mosaic (sheet-mounted, 20x20 or 25x25mm) | $80–$250/m2 | $160–$300/m2 | Feature walls, premium look | Translucent finish catches light. Requires white adhesive and careful grouting. Labour-intensive to cut. |
| Penny round and fish scale | $60–$180/m2 | $140–$260/m2 | Statement splashbacks, curved accents | Sheet-mounted for easier installation. Popular in coastal and contemporary kitchens. Intricate edge cuts increase labour. |
| Handmade and zellige | $100–$300/m2 | $180–$380/m2 | Heritage, artisan, character kitchens | Irregular edges and thickness variations are part of the look. Needs an experienced tiler. Moroccan zellige has moved from trend to established classic. |
| Natural stone (marble, travertine) | $120–$350/m2 | $200–$400/m2 | Premium, unique veining | Each piece is unique. Marble needs sealing every 6–12 months. Porous stones can stain from cooking oils if unsealed. |
| Pressed metal panels | $60–$120/m2 (panels) | $120–$200/m2 installed | Heritage and cottage kitchens | Not technically tiling. Panels are screwed or glued to the wall. Quick installation (often a half-day job). Popular alternative in period home renovations. Available from Heritage Ceilings. |
Tile prices vary by supplier and region. Amber Tiles and specialist tile studios carry broader ranges of designer, imported, and handmade tiles at higher price points than the major retailers.
Grout: The Overlooked Cost Factor
Grout choice affects both cost and long-term maintenance. Behind the cooktop especially, grout is exposed to cooking grease and moisture daily.
- Cement grout ($5–$10/m2 materials). The standard. Needs sealing within 24 hours of curing and resealing every 1–2 years behind the cooktop. Stains if unsealed. Widely available and easy for tilers to work with.
- Epoxy grout ($15–$30/m2 materials). Non-porous, stain-proof, and grease-resistant. Three to five times the material cost of cement grout. Does not need sealing. Brands like Ardex WA and Mapei Kerapoxy are the trade standards. Harder to work with (shorter working time), so some tilers charge a labour premium. Worth the extra behind the cooktop and in high-use areas.
Adhesive adds $8–$15/m2 for standard applications. Wall tiles behind cooktops should use a heat-rated adhesive (most quality flexible adhesives from Ardex, Mapei, or Davco handle the temperature range of a standard cooktop without issue).
What Affects the Cost
- Splashback area. A single wall behind the cooktop is 2–4m2. A full kitchen splashback covering all benchtop walls might be 6–12m2. Larger areas reduce the per-square-metre rate because the tiler's setup time is fixed.
- Tile type. See the comparison table above. Ceramic subway tiles are the most affordable and widely stocked option in Australia. Glass mosaic, handmade zellige, and natural stone sit at the premium end.
- Power point cutouts. Each power point or switch needs a precise hole cut in the tile. A typical kitchen has 4–6 power points along the splashback. Each cutout adds $30–$60 of cutting time. If you want to add or move power points, that is separate electrical work that must be done before the splashback goes on.
- Window reveals. If the splashback runs around a kitchen window (common above the sink), the tiler needs to tile the window reveals (sides and sill). This adds cutting and finishing work that is easy to underestimate in a quote.
- Pattern complexity. Brick bond (offset) is the standard for subway tiles and the fastest to lay. Herringbone adds 20–30% to labour time. Fish scale, chevron, and diagonal patterns add 30–40%. Vertical stack bond is quicker than brick bond but less forgiving of uneven walls.
- Existing splashback removal. Removing old tiles costs $25–$40/m2. Glass panel removal is simpler but the adhesive residue needs thorough removal, and the wall behind often needs patching. Painted walls usually just need priming.
- Grout type. Upgrading from cement to epoxy grout adds $10–$20/m2 in materials plus a possible labour premium. Worth it behind the cooktop.
A simple ceramic subway tile splashback behind the cooktop in a compact kitchen sits toward $500. A full kitchen splashback with handmade tiles, herringbone pattern, epoxy grout, multiple power point cutouts, window reveal tiling, and old tile removal pushes toward $3,500.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Kitchen splashback prices are relatively consistent across Australian cities because the job size is small and tile availability is similar nationwide. The main variation comes from tiler labour rates and the local trade pool size.
City level: Sydney (NSW) sets the baseline at $500–$3,500 per job. Melbourne tracks close to Sydney, with a strong market in designer and handmade tiles driven by the inner-suburb renovation scene. Brisbane tends to sit slightly below eastern capitals because newer Queensland homes have simpler wall construction (flat plasterboard versus the rendered masonry and lath-and-plaster common in older southern homes). Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% above eastern capitals due to smaller trade pools.
Suburb and property level: Within any city, the price spread is driven more by tile choice and kitchen layout than by location alone. A heritage kitchen renovation in Paddington (Sydney), Fitzroy (Melbourne), or Norwood (Adelaide) with zellige tiles and herringbone pattern costs the same to tile as a new-build with the same specification. The variables unique to older kitchens are removal of existing splashback material (old tiles, glass, pressed metal) and wall repair underneath. Kitchens in pre-1980s homes may have uneven rendered walls that need levelling before tiling, adding $15–$30/m2 for substrate preparation.
Cross-referencing your splashback with related kitchen trades helps with budgeting. Kitchen plumbing (sink connections, dishwasher plumbing) is typically coordinated before the splashback goes on. Kitchen cabinetry and benchtop installation must be completed before the tiler can start.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed tilers, adjusted for each state and typical material costs. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential kitchen splashback tiling including tiles, adhesive, grout, and installation labour. Full kitchen renovations, benchtop installation, plumbing, and electrical work for power points are separate costs.