How Much Does Tiling a Kitchen Splashback Cost?

Tiling a kitchen splashback typically costs £300-£900 fitted for a standard run of wall behind the hob and worktop, including materials and labour. The exact price depends mainly on how much wall you're covering, the tile you choose, and whether the surface underneath needs preparing first.

What affects the price

• Area covered: a splashback behind just the hob might be 1-2m², while a full run behind all worktops in a galley kitchen could be 4-6m² or more — price scales roughly with area.
• Tile type: standard ceramic tiles are the cheapest option, often £15-£40 per m² for the tiles themselves; natural stone, glass, or large-format porcelain tiles can run to £60-£150+ per m².
• Labour: a professional tiler typically charges by the day or by area, and a straightforward splashback is usually a one-day job — expect to pay more for intricate patterns like herringbone or metro brick-bond, which take longer to lay accurately.
• Wall preparation: if the existing wall is uneven, has old tiles that need removing, or is bare plasterboard that needs sealing, that adds time and cost before tiling can even start.

Full-height vs standard splashback

A standard splashback typically runs from the worktop up to roughly 600mm, covering the area directly behind the hob and any exposed worktop runs. Some kitchens go for a full-height splashback right up to wall units, or even tile the whole wall as a feature — this obviously increases both the tile quantity and labour time, but can look striking, particularly with patterned or textured tiles as a focal point.

Materials worth knowing about

Behind the hob specifically, it's worth choosing a tile and grout genuinely rated for heat exposure and easy cleaning — some decorative tiles look the part but aren't as practical for daily splashes and grease. Glass splashbacks (a single sheet rather than tiles) are a popular alternative in modern kitchens, typically £200-£500 for a hob-width panel, with no grout lines to keep clean, though they're a different product entirely from tiling.

Choosing a tile size and layout

Larger format tiles (300mm x 600mm or bigger) mean fewer grout lines and a cleaner, more contemporary look, but they're harder to cut accurately around sockets and awkward corners, and any unevenness in the wall behind becomes more visible across a bigger tile. Smaller metro or brick-style tiles (often 100mm x 200mm) are more forgiving to cut and fit, and their layout pattern (straight stack, brick bond, or herringbone) can itself add visual interest without needing a feature tile. As a rough guide, always order 10% more tiles than the measured area to allow for cuts and breakages, particularly with a patterned layout that wastes more material at the edges.

How long does it take?

A standard hob-width splashback is typically a one-day job for a professional tiler, including surface preparation, tiling and grouting, though grout usually needs 24-48 hours to cure fully before the area is back in regular use. A larger or full-height splashback, or one requiring significant wall preparation first, can take two to three days.

Splashback around windows and sockets

If your splashback area includes a window (common behind a kitchen sink), the reveal (the recessed sides and sill of the window opening) often needs tiling too for a finished look, which adds cutting complexity and a little extra cost. Similarly, if you're replacing worktops and a splashback at the same time, it's worth getting both measured and ordered together — small variations between the old and new worktop height can otherwise leave an awkward gap or overlap where the splashback meets the worktop.

DIY or professional?

A small, straightforward splashback on a flat, prepared wall is a realistic DIY project for someone comfortable with basic tiling — cutting around sockets and getting a level first row are the trickiest parts. A full-height splashback, patterned layout, or tiling over an uneven or previously tiled wall is better left to a professional, both for the finish quality and because mistakes are expensive to redo once grouted.

Common mistakes

• Not accounting for sockets and switches. Cutting tiles cleanly around kitchen sockets takes practice — factor this into the labour time and tile wastage.
• Choosing the wrong grout colour. A pale grout behind a hob can discolour with cooking grease over time; a slightly darker, stain-resistant grout is often more practical.
• Skipping proper wall preparation. Tiling directly over an unsuitable surface risks tiles coming loose or cracking later.

If you're deciding between tiles and other splashback materials, see our comparison of kitchen splashback materials. For the full cost of a kitchen renovation including splashback and worktops, see our UK kitchen renovation cost guide.