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 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 $3,600.
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–$3,600 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). Smaller trade pools influence availability and quotes in Perth and Adelaide; see the Pricing by City table for local ranges.
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 for sink connections or dishwasher plumbing costs $150–$1,100 per job and 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.