Kitchen Backsplash Installation in San Antonio
Subway, herringbone, zellige, mosaic and full-height slab-look backsplashes, cut clean around outlets, windows and cabinets and finished with matching trim.
How much does a kitchen backsplash cost in San Antonio?
Backsplash labor in San Antonio typically runs $20 to $35 per square foot because of the cuts around outlets, windows and cabinets, so a standard 30 to 40 square foot backsplash lands around $600 to $1,400 in labor plus tile. Zellige, mosaic and full-height installs sit at the top of that range.
The Detail Everyone Sees First
A backsplash is small, close to eye level and lit from above, so every cut shows. We plan the layout from the focal point, usually the range wall, so full tiles land where you look and cuts hide in corners, and we cut around outlets, switches, window sills and cabinet undersides with a wet saw and a grinder for the fiddly bits.
We install ceramic subway in every bond pattern, herringbone and chevron, handmade-look zellige with its irregular edges and varied glaze, glass and stone mosaics, picket and fish-scale shapes, large-format porcelain slabs for a grout-free look, and full-height backsplashes behind ranges and hoods. Outlet extenders, Schluter-type edge trim, pencil liners and color-matched caulk finish it properly.
- ✓Subway, herringbone, chevron and stacked layouts
- ✓Zellige, glass, marble and mosaic tile
- ✓Full-height range and hood walls
- ✓Large-format porcelain slab backsplashes
- ✓Edge trim, outlet extenders and caulk to the counter
Layout From the Focal Point
The range wall is where the eye lands, so that is where we start the pattern and where the full tiles go. Everything else works outward from there.
- Dry layout to plan every cut before the first tile
- Wet-saw cuts and ground notches around outlets
- Level starting line so the pattern does not drift
- Consistent joints, especially on zellige and mosaic
- Silicone at the counter and cabinet joints
What a Backsplash Quote Includes
Backsplash quotes are flat-priced after photos or a visit and cover:
- ✓Removal of old backsplash where present, wall repair
- ✓Tile, thinset or mastic, grout and caulk
- ✓Layout, cuts and outlet extenders
- ✓Edge trim or bullnose
- ✓Sealing of stone or unglazed tile
- ✓Clean-up and counter protection
What Backsplashes Cost in San Antonio
Typical 2026 ranges, labor plus tile.
Standard subway or stacked tile
$20 to $26 per sq ft laborPlus tile at $3 to $10 per square foot.
Herringbone, mosaic or zellige
$26 to $35 per sq ft laborMore cuts and more careful joints; tile usually $8 to $25 per square foot.
Full-height or slab-look walls
Quoted per wallLarge-format porcelain needs two people and a flat wall.
Ranges are 2026 Greater San Antonio figures for planning only (San Antonio labor runs about 14 percent under the national average). Your written quote is itemized after we see the space.
Prep First, Then the Pretty Part
Level, Flat, Square
We prep the substrate first: self-leveling over slab dips, backer board or foam board on walls, and layout lines before a single tile is set.
Waterproofing That Lasts
Showers get a proper waterproofing system (sheet membrane or liquid-applied) and a pre-slope, not just cement board and hope.
Clean Cuts & Straight Grout
Wet-saw cuts, consistent joints, leveling clips on large-format tile and grout matched to the design.
Written Quote First
Materials, labor, demo and haul-away itemized before we start, so the number does not move once the old tile is out.
Your Project in 4 Steps
Free Estimate
Send photos and rough dimensions or book a walkthrough; you get a written quote within a business day.
Layout & Materials
We confirm tile, pattern, grout color, trims and niches, and check the substrate and waterproofing plan.
Prep & Set
Demo, leveling, backer board or membrane, then tile set to layout lines with clips and spacers.
Grout, Seal, Walkthrough
Grout, caulk at changes of plane, seal stone, clean up and a walkthrough before final payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most kitchen backsplashes are done in one to two days: set on day one, grout and caulk on day two once the thinset has cured.
Yes. Counters stay and are protected during the work. If you are replacing counters, we install the backsplash after the new tops go in.
For most kitchens a high-performance cement grout or a stain-resistant single-component grout in a color that suits the tile. Light grout on a white tile stays cleanest with a stain-resistant product.
Yes. Zellige is handmade with irregular thickness and edges, so it is set with tighter joints and more care in layout. We will show you how much variation to expect before you buy.
Yes. Full-height range and hood walls are a popular upgrade and are quoted per wall, including any extra tile and trim.
Yes, including repairing the drywall behind it so the new tile sits flat.
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Tell us about the project and we will get right back to you with a clear, written quote.