Kitchen splashback cost UK 2026
The going rate for kitchen splashback in 2026 is £150–£400 (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Kitchen splashback calculator
Market band source: Fantastic Services.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| prep | Protect and set out | 0.5 h |
| fix | Set out and fix splashback | 1.3 h per m² + 0.5 h |
| finish | Grout and clean | 0.15 h per m² |
| finish | Silicone and trims | 1 h |
Some stages wait for materials to cure first, which can mean a return visit — that's why the worked example has 2 visits.
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade choice | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall tile adhesive (S1, dry areas) 20kg bag | £12 Merchant own-brand S1 — Fine for ceramic on sound plaster | £22 BAL SPF S1 or equivalent — Grabs large wall tiles without slip | £32 Rapid-set S1 — Grout the same day |
| Grout 5kg bag | £10 Standard cement grout — Dry areas, standard joints | £16 Flexible grout — Flexible for timber, UFH and wet areas | £24 Stain-resistant flexible grout — Resists staining and mould in kitchens and showers |
| Sanitary silicone tube | £5 Standard sanitary silicone — Movement joints at edges | £8 Anti-mould sanitary silicone — Stays white in bathrooms | £12 Colour-matched silicone — Matches coloured grout |
| Tile trims 2.5 m length | £5 PVC trim — Covers cut edges | £10 Aluminium trim — Durable corners | £18 Stainless or brushed trim — Feature finish |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-25. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- Tile size? up to 300mm · 600x300 · 600x600 · 1200x600+ · mosaic big effect
- Tile material? ceramic · porcelain · natural stone
- Layout? straight · brick bond · diagonal · herringbone
- Who supplies tiles? customer · me big effect
Good practice
- Old tiles come up so the new floor bonds to a sound base
- Large format needs 3 mm/2 m flatness, clips, back-buttering and two to lift
- Diagonal and herringbone waste about 15%
- Natural stone: white adhesive, seal before grouting
- Mosaic runs at 2–4 m² a day and uses more grout
- Underfloor heating: S1 adhesive, decoupling and movement joints
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of cuts | pipes, boxing, window reveals, nibs, sockets | Pipes, boxing and reveals add cutting time (about +10–20%) |
| Cracked or loose tiles | cracked, lifted or missing tiles | Remove old tiles |
| Possible asbestos | Artex swirls or old 225 mm (9 inch) square floor tiles | Possible asbestos: test before disturbing |
Questions
How much does kitchen splashback cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £150–£400 (total, ex VAT), from Fantastic Services. A worked example of 3 m² comes to about £312–£397 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does kitchen splashback take?
The worked example of 3 m² takes about 1 working days over 2 visits (waiting for materials to cure in between).
What changes the price of kitchen splashback?
Mainly tile size, who supplies tiles, plus any prep found on site: lots of cuts, cracked or loose tiles, possible asbestos.