How Much Do Kitchen Splashbacks Cost? [2026]

Splashback Materials And Their Costs

When you are planning a kitchen renovation, budgeting for a splashback is one of the most important steps. It is the protective barrier that stops cooking oil, water, and food splatters from ruining your plasterboard, but it is also a major design feature that ties the whole room together.

Depending on the material you choose, supplying and installing a splashback usually ranges from $45 to well over $800 per square metre (m²).

Because the Australian market offers a huge variety of materials, the price gap between a budget DIY job and a high-end architectural finish is significant. Here is a detailed breakdown of the most common materials and what you can expect to pay for them.

• Tile Splashbacks ($45 to $250+ per m²) - Tiles remain the most versatile option in Australian kitchens. On the lower end of the scale, basic ceramic subway tiles are incredibly cheap to buy. However, if you opt for intricate mosaic sheets, handmade Moroccan Zellige tiles, or large-format porcelain tiles, the material cost shoots up. Keep in mind that laying small, intricate tiles takes much longer, which will increase your final labour bill.


• Laminate Splashbacks ($200 to $250 per m²) - If you want a seamless look that matches your laminate benchtop, continuing the laminate up the wall is a budget-friendly option. It is easy to clean and fast to install. However, under Australian building standards, standard laminate cannot be installed directly behind a gas cooktop without a non-combustible protective barrier (like a sheet of stainless steel or toughened glass) due to the fire risk.


• Acrylic / Polymer Splashbacks ($200 to $300 per m²) - Acrylic panels give you the high-gloss, sleek look of glass but for a fraction of the cost. They are lightweight, can be cut to size on-site with standard woodworking tools, and are easy to install. The downside? Acrylic scratches easier than glass and, just like laminate, it requires strict heat clearances if you are cooking with gas.


• Stainless Steel Splashbacks ($250 to $450 per m²) - For a robust, industrial, or commercial kitchen look, stainless steel is brilliant. It is completely heat resistant, highly hygienic, and very durable. The main drawback is that it shows fingerprints, watermarks, and smudges very easily, meaning you will need to polish it regularly to keep it looking sharp.


• Glass Splashbacks ($300 to $600 per m²) - Glass is a long-standing favourite because it offers a modern, grout-free surface that is incredibly easy to wipe down. Because glass needs to be cut to size, drilled for powerpoints, and then toughened in a kiln before it reaches your house, the upfront cost is higher.


• Pressed Tin Panels ($100 to $200 per m²) - Often used in heritage homes or Hamptons-style kitchens, pressed tin offers beautiful textures and patterns. It is usually supplied in large sheets, glued to the wall, and then painted in an enamel or heat-resistant paint.

For the installation labour alone, tradespeople generally charge between $40 and $120 per m² depending on the complexity of the pattern and the condition of your walls. If your walls need stripping and replastering before the splashback goes on, this will add to the final bill.

It is also worth noting that labour costs fluctuate significantly depending on where you live. Tradies in major capital cities with higher costs of living naturally charge more. Here is a rough guide on the average installation labour costs across major Australian cities:

• Adelaide- $40 to $60 per m²


• Perth- $45 to $65 per m²


• Brisbane- $50 to $70 per m²


• Melbourne- $50 to $80 per m²


• Canberra- $60 to $100 per m²


• Sydney- $60 to $100+ per m²

Different Types Of Glass Kitchen Splashbacks And Their Costs

Glass is one of the most heavily requested splashback choices in Australia. Not all glass is created equal, however. Glaziers offer several different types of glass depending on the aesthetic you want and the practical needs of your cooking space. Here is a deeper look at your options.

Toughened Glass ($300 - $450 per m²)

By law, any glass installed directly behind a cooktop in Australia must be toughened (tempered) glass. This means the glass has been treated with heat to make it up to five times stronger than standard glass. If it ever does break, it shatters into small, blunt cubes rather than dangerous, jagged shards. It is highly resistant to heat cracking and scratching.

Starfire Glass ($400 - $500 per m²)

If you look at the edge of a standard piece of glass, you will notice it has a distinct green tinge. This is caused by the natural iron content in the glass. If you want to paint the back of your splashback a crisp, pure white or a very pale colour, that green tint will distort the final look. Starfire glass has the iron removed, making it crystal clear. It costs a bit more, but it is absolutely necessary if you want accurate colour matching.

Mirrored Glass ($450 - $600 per m²)

Mirrored splashbacks are a fantastic design trick for small kitchens or apartments. They bounce natural light around the room and give the illusion of double the space. Kitchen mirrored glass is very different from your bathroom mirror—it goes through a special toughening process and is usually tinted in a smoky grey or bronze finish to tone down the glare and give it a sophisticated edge.

Printed Glass ($600 - $1,000+ per m²)

For a true statement piece, you can have any high-resolution image, geometric pattern, or faux-marble design digitally printed onto the back of the glass. Some homeowners use photos of forests, city skylines, or intricate tile patterns. Because this requires specialised digital printing equipment before the sealing process, it sits firmly at the premium end of the market.

Back-Painted Glass ($350 - $450 per m²)

This is the standard approach for most modern glass splashbacks. The glazier will take a solid colour of your choice—often matched to a specific Dulux or Taubmans paint code—and spray it onto the back of the glass panel. Once glued to your wall, the paint is protected completely from scratches and grease.

Cost-Affecting Factors For Kitchen Splashback Installation

It is rare for two kitchen splashback quotes to be exactly the same. Tradespeople take several variables into account when pricing up a job. Understanding these factors can help you manage your renovation budget much better.

• The Complexity of the Layout- A perfectly straight three-metre wall is incredibly easy to tile or fit with glass. However, if your kitchen wraps around multiple corners, has varying cabinet heights, or features large windows, the materials require precise cutting and joining. More cuts equal more labour time and a higher risk of material wastage.


• Powerpoints and Cutouts- Every single powerpoint, light switch, or rangehood bracket on your wall requires a specific cutout. For glass and large porcelain slabs, these holes must be precision-cut in a factory before the material is toughened. Glaziers usually charge an extra $30 to $60 for every individual cutout.


• Surface Preparation- A splashback needs a clean, flat surface to sit on. If you are renovating an old kitchen and the tradie needs to chip off 1980s ceramic tiles, scrape away the old glue, and patch the damaged plasterboard underneath, you will be paying for that extra preparation time. Skipping this step leads to wonky tiles and poorly fitted glass.


• Access to the Property- Tradies factor in how hard it is to get materials into your house. Carrying a massive, fragile pane of glass up three flights of stairs in an apartment building takes more manpower and carries a higher risk of breakage than walking it straight into a single-story suburban home. If access is difficult, expect a slight bump in the installation price.


• Electrical Work- If you are replacing a splashback, the faceplates of your powerpoints usually need to be removed and then re-fitted over the new material. In Australia, only a licensed electrician can legally disconnect and reconnect these fittings. You will need to factor in a call-out fee for a "sparkie" alongside your tiler or glazier.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Kitchen Splashbacks Installer?

In Australia, tradespeople will quote your project in one of two ways: an hourly rate or a total project cost based on the square meterage.

If you are hiring a professional on an hourly basis, you can expect to pay between $60 and $120 per hour. The rate depends entirely on their specific trade. A general handyman will sit at the lower end of that scale, while a master tiler or licensed glazier will sit at the top. If they quote per square metre, rates generally fall between $40 and $150, largely depending on the material. Laying a complex herringbone tile pattern takes significantly longer than gluing a single sheet of acrylic to the wall.

For an average-sized Australian kitchen (roughly 3 to 4 square metres of splashback space), the total project cost—including both the materials and the professional labour—usually falls into these brackets:

• Low Cost ($500 to $800)- This covers basic ceramic subway tiles or DIY-friendly acrylic sheets, a simple straight-line layout, and a wall that requires absolutely no prior preparation or demolition.


• Average Cost ($1,000 to $1,800)- This is the sweet spot for most renovations. It covers a professionally measured and installed back-painted glass splashback, or high-quality porcelain tiles laid by an experienced tradesperson.


• High Cost ($2,000 to $3,500+)- This covers premium materials like custom printed glass, mirrored glass, or massive, seamless porcelain slabs. It also accounts for difficult installations, multiple powerpoint cutouts, and extensive wall plastering prior to the install.

If you are on a strict budget and are using easy-to-install materials like stick-on tiles or lightweight laminate panels, you might decide to find a local handyman to help you get the job done. They can provide a great finish at a lower hourly rate. However, if you are dealing with heavy glass, high-end stone alternatives, or intricate mosaic tiling, it is always a safer financial bet to bring in specialised kitchen installers who offer warranties on their workmanship.

Understanding The Engineered Stone Ban & Safe Alternatives

If you have been looking at kitchen design trends, you have likely seen splashbacks made from beautiful stone that seamlessly match the benchtops. It is vital to know that the rules around these materials have recently changed in Australia.

On July 1, 2024, the Australian Government officially banned the manufacture, supply, processing, and installation of traditional engineered stone benchtops, slabs, and panels. This ban was introduced to protect workers from respirable crystalline silica, a dust created when cutting the stone, which is linked to severe lung diseases like silicosis.

What does this mean for your splashback?

You can no longer buy traditional engineered stone (which previously contained up to 90% silica). However, the major stone brands have completely overhauled their formulas. You can now purchase Zero-Silica Mineral Surfaces. These look and feel exactly the same as the old engineered stone but are made from safe, recycled glass and resin blends.

Alternatively, Large Format Porcelain Slabs have become the new gold standard for stone-look splashbacks. Porcelain contains zero or trace amounts of silica, is incredibly resistant to heat (making it perfect behind gas cooktops), and won't stain.

Supplying and installing these safe, silica-free stone alternatives usually costs between $400 and $800+ per square metre, depending on the thickness of the slab and the brand you choose.