Herringbone Backsplash: Looks, Tile Sizes and Install Cost

A herringbone backsplash is a kitchen wall tiled with rectangle tiles set in a zigzag, where the end of each tile meets the side of the next. It adds movement without adding color. On our recent jobs, a 17 to 35 sq ft kitchen backsplash costs $1,100 to $2,500 for labor and setting materials, including tear-out (as of 2026 pricing). Herringbone sits toward the upper end because every edge tile needs an angled cut. You buy the tile, and we set it. Back to kitchen backsplash ideas or see our tile ideas complete guide.

Here are 4 things to know before you pick herringbone: what it looks like, what it costs, how we install it, and how to get a real price.

1. Herringbone Backsplash Looks, Tiles and Grout

Herringbone works with almost any rectangle tile. Long, thin tiles show the zigzag best. Short, wide tiles make a chunkier pattern.

Which tile sizes work best?

• 2x8 or 2x10: the classic herringbone size. Fine pattern, lots of movement.
• 3x12 subway: a bolder zigzag with fewer grout lines.
• Marble mosaic sheets: small herringbone pieces already set on mesh. Faster to hang.
• Avoid: square tiles. Herringbone needs a tile at least twice as long as it is wide.

Herringbone vs chevron

• Tile shape: herringbone uses plain rectangles. Chevron uses tiles with angled ends.
• Look: herringbone has a stepped, woven zigzag. Chevron forms a clean, continuous V.
• Buying: chevron tile must be bought as chevron. Any subway tile can go in herringbone.
• Install: both take more time than straight layouts. Chevron needs the tighter layout.

Grout and color choices

• Matching grout: soft and quiet. The pattern shows up in the light.
• Contrast grout: white tile with gray or charcoal grout makes the zigzag sharp.
• Grout brand: we use Laticrete Permacolor. It holds its color and resists stains.
• Direction: a vertical herringbone points up and makes a low wall look taller.

Herringbone also shines as a panel behind the range, framed by a straight layout on the rest of the wall. Our backsplash behind stove guide covers where that panel should stop. For other layouts with the same tile, see our subway tile patterns guide.

Planning one now? Send photos of your kitchen wall and herringbone tile for a same-day backsplash estimate.

Where does a herringbone backsplash work best?

Herringbone works best on a wall with few breaks. Every window, outlet and cabinet end cuts into the pattern. A long, open run between counter and cabinets shows the zigzag at its best.

• Behind the range: a framed herringbone panel becomes the focal point.
• Full-height walls: herringbone to the ceiling around open shelves looks custom.
• Coffee or bar nooks: a small wall lets you try a bold tile without a big order.
• Simple kitchens: plain cabinets and a solid counter let the pattern lead.

2. What a Herringbone Backsplash Costs to Install

A herringbone backsplash costs $1,100 to $2,500 with us for most kitchens of 17 to 35 sq ft (as of 2026 pricing). That covers labor, setting materials and removing the old backsplash. Tile is extra, and you buy it.

Why does herringbone cost more than subway?

The tile can cost the same. The labor does not. Every tile at the edges, the counter, the cabinets and each outlet needs an angled cut. A running bond wall needs far fewer cuts. Herringbone also uses more tile, because the cut pieces at the edges become waste.

• Ceramic subway tile: about $4 per sq ft (based on current material prices).
• Porcelain tile: about $7 per sq ft.
• Marble or natural stone: about $20 per sq ft, plus sealing.
• Zellige or handmade-look tile: about $22 per sq ft.

For backsplash and floor prices side by side, see our kitchen tile installation cost guide.

3. How We Install a Herringbone Backsplash

Herringbone lives or dies on layout. One crooked row at the start shows across the whole wall. We spend the first part of the job on lines, not tile.

1. Tear-out and wall prep: we remove the old backsplash and patch the wall. Old Boston plaster often needs a skim coat.
2. Center line: we snap a plumb line on the center of the range or sink. The point of the zigzag runs up that line.
3. Dry layout: we lay a few rows on the counter to check how the pattern lands at each end.
4. Setting: we set tile in polymer-modified thin-set. It grips better than mastic and handles heat by the range.
5. Edge cuts: we cut each edge piece on a wet saw so the angles stay sharp.
6. Trim: open ends get Schluter metal edge trim, finished to match the grout.
7. Grout and caulk: we grout with Laticrete Permacolor and caulk where tile meets the counter.

Herringbone mistakes we fix

• Starting in a corner: the pattern drifts and ends in slivers. We start from the center.
• Ordering too little tile: herringbone wastes more tile at the edges than a straight layout. We tell you how much extra to buy for your wall.
• Mixing tile lots: color can shift between lots. Buy all the tile at once and check the numbers on the boxes.
• Grouting the counter joint: that joint moves, so it gets caulk instead of grout.
• Wavy walls: long tiles show every bump. We flatten the wall before we set the first row.

How long does a herringbone backsplash take?

Most backsplashes take 1 to 3 days. Our two-person crew sets roughly 100 sq ft of tile a day on open walls. Herringbone runs slower because of the cuts. Grout goes on once the thin-set has set.

Aguirre Modern Tile has installed tile in Greater Boston since 2016. We are a registered Massachusetts home improvement contractor (HIC #655072) and fully insured.

4. Get a Herringbone Backsplash Quote From Photos

We quote most backsplashes from photos. Take a straight-on shot of each wall, a close-up of outlets and windows, and a picture of the tile you like. We visit only if a measurement is unclear. A deposit holds your start date, and the balance is due when the job is done.

• Photo of each wall, counter to cabinets
• Rough width of each wall
• Tile name or link, and the size
• Range hood type, if tile goes behind it

Not sure about the tile yet? Send the wall photos anyway. We recommend suppliers, help you compare sizes, and never mark up tile. Your estimate lists the backsplash on its own, so you can add a floor or another wall later.

Send photos of your kitchen and herringbone tile pick for a same-day estimate.