At a Glance
Kitchen splashback tiling in Adelaide costs $450–$3,000 per job. Adelaide's smaller kitchen sizes in older character suburbs keep the total area modest, which means even mid-range tile choices stay affordable. The trade-off is that Adelaide's smaller tiler pool means labour rates sit above Sydney and Melbourne on a per-hour basis.
What's Included in the Price
- Removal of old splashback if applicable (old tiles, paint, laminate)
- Wall preparation (cleaning, priming, patching)
- Supply and installation of splashback tiles to AS 3958
- Cutouts around power points and switches
- Grouting and silicone sealing along the benchtop edge and wall junctions
- Cleanup
The benchtop must be installed before the tiler can start. Tiles sit on top of the benchtop surface and are cut to fit.
What Affects the Cost
- Tile type. Subway tiles are the most cost-effective. Heritage-style tiles are popular in Adelaide character home renovations. Glass mosaic and natural stone are at the premium end.
- Kitchen size. Older Adelaide kitchens tend to be compact. Character homes in Norwood, Unley, and Prospect often have galley or L-shaped kitchens with 4–8m2 of splashback area. Newer homes in outer suburbs have larger open-plan kitchens.
- Power point cutouts. Each cutout adds $30–$60. Smaller Adelaide kitchens may have fewer power points (2–4), keeping this cost lower.
- Old splashback removal. Many character home kitchens have painted plaster or tile splashbacks from previous decades. Removal and wall repair adds cost, especially if the plaster underneath is soft or damaged.
- Pattern. Brick bond is the most common. Heritage-style patterns (subway with a pencil border, for example) are popular in character home kitchen renovations.
- Window reveals. Older Adelaide kitchens frequently have windows above the sink. Tiling around these adds cutting and finishing.
A subway tile splashback behind the cooktop in a Golden Grove townhouse sits toward $450. A full kitchen splashback in a Norwood character home with heritage-style tiles, old tile removal, wall repair, window reveal tiling, and 4 power point cutouts pushes toward $3,000.
Adelaide-Specific Considerations
Adelaide's kitchen splashback market is shaped by the city's large stock of character homes and the growing outer suburbs.
Character home kitchens. Norwood, Unley, Prospect, Goodwood, Hyde Park. Adelaide has more character homes per capita than almost any other Australian capital. Many of these homes have been renovated over the decades, but the kitchen may still have original or dated finishes. Splashback tiling in these kitchens often involves removing old paint or tile, repairing soft plaster walls, and choosing tiles that complement the period style. Heritage-look subway tiles, handmade ceramics, and tiles with a slightly irregular edge are popular choices.
Compact kitchen sizes. Older Adelaide kitchens are smaller than their modern counterparts. A galley kitchen in a 1920s bungalow might have just 3–5m2 of splashback wall. This keeps total cost down even if premium tiles are chosen.
Newer estates. Mawson Lakes, Seaford, Golden Grove, Munno Para. Standard plasterboard walls, modern layouts, and larger kitchens. Straightforward tiling work that sits at the lower end of the range.
Tile sourcing. Adelaide has fewer specialist tile studios than Sydney or Melbourne. Some homeowners order designer tiles from interstate suppliers, which adds lead time but not installation cost. The tiler just needs to know the tile specification before quoting.
Hiring a Licensed Tiler in SA
In South Australia, tiling is classified as building work requiring a Building Work Contractor's Licence from Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Most standalone splashback jobs will fall below the licensing threshold, but if the work is part of a larger renovation, licensing may apply.
For any splashback job:
- Ask for public liability insurance
- Check photos of recent splashback work
- Confirm the quote itemises power point cutouts and any wall repair
You can verify licence holders on the CBS licence search.
Red flags: A tiler who quotes without seeing the kitchen, does not ask about your benchtop installation timeline, or does not break out cutout and wall repair costs.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed tilers in the Adelaide metro area. All prices include GST. Figures cover the splashback tiling itself. Benchtop installation, electrical work, and full kitchen renovations are separate costs.