At a Glance
A kitchen splashback in Australia typically costs $500–$3,500 per job, using Sydney metro as the baseline. Perth and Adelaide tend to run 10–15% higher. The final price depends on the splashback area, tile or material type, number of power point cutouts, and whether an existing splashback needs removing first.
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
- Cutouts around power points, switches, and window reveals
- Grouting and silicone sealing along benchtop and at wall junctions
- Cleanup
Materials (tiles, adhesive, grout) account for 30–50% of the cost depending on tile choice. Labour is the balance, driven primarily by the number of cuts and cutouts required.
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 setup time is fixed.
- Tile type. Subway tiles are the most affordable and widely available. Glass mosaic and natural stone are the most expensive. Large-format porcelain minimises grout lines but costs more to supply and install.
- Power point cutouts. Each power point or switch needs a precise hole cut in the tile. With 4–6 power points along a typical splashback, cutting alone can add meaningful cost.
- Window reveals. If the splashback runs around a kitchen window (common above the sink), the tiler needs to tile the window reveals, adding cutting and finishing work.
- Existing splashback removal. Removing old tiles costs $25–$40/m2. Glass panel removal is simpler but the wall underneath often needs patching. Painted walls just need priming.
- Pattern complexity. Brick bond is the standard for subway tiles. Herringbone, fish scale, and diagonal patterns increase labour time.
A simple subway tile splashback behind the cooktop in a compact kitchen sits toward $500. A full kitchen splashback with glass mosaic, herringbone pattern, 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 material availability is similar nationwide. The main variation comes from labour rates.
Sydney is the baseline at $500–$3,500 per job. Melbourne tracks close to Sydney. Brisbane tends to sit slightly below because of simpler wall construction in newer Queensland homes. Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% above eastern capitals due to higher trade rates.
Within any city, the price spread is driven more by tile choice and kitchen layout than by property age. A heritage kitchen renovation in Paddington (Sydney), Fitzroy (Melbourne), or Norwood (Adelaide) with designer tiles and complex patterns costs the same to tile as a new-build with the same specification. The main variable unique to older kitchens is removal of existing splashback material and wall repair underneath.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed tilers, adjusted for each state. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential kitchen splashback tiling. Full kitchen renovations, benchtop installation, and electrical work for power points are separate costs.