Shower Tile Calculator
Enter the shower floor size and how high you're tiling. You get tile for the three walls and the floor, plus backer board, waterproofing, thinset and grout.
- Tested formulas
- Feet or metric
- Printable shopping list
2 What to buy
Updates as you typeSmall floor tiles usually come on mesh sheets of about 1 sq ft, so 15.4 sq ft is roughly 16 sheets. Check the sheet size on the box.
| Back + two side walls | 10.34 ft × wall height |
|---|---|
| Wall tile area (no waste) | 83 sq ft |
| Wall tiles to buy | 45 (90 sq ft) |
| Floor area | 13 sq ft |
| Grout (walls + floor) | 10.2 lb |
| Thinset (walls + floor) | 3 × 50 lb bags |
| Cement or foam backer board | 83 sq ft → 7 sheets of 3' × 5' |
| Waterproofing membrane | 96 sq ft (walls + floor) |
Shopping list
Quick answer
A 60 × 32 inch alcove shower tiled 8 ft high has about 83 sq ft of wall, so buy about 90 sq ft of wall tile with 10% extra. The 13 sq ft floor needs about 15 sq ft of small mosaic tile with 15% extra for cuts around the drain.
Wall tile for common shower sizes
| Shower (back × side) | 7 ft high | 8 ft high | Floor (15% extra) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36" × 36" | 70 sq ft | 78 sq ft | 10 sq ft |
| 48" × 36" | 76 sq ft | 88 sq ft | 14 sq ft |
| 60" × 32" (tub size) | 80 sq ft | 90 sq ft | 15 sq ft |
| 60" × 36" | 84 sq ft | 96 sq ft | 17 sq ft |
| 60" × 42" | 92 sq ft | 104 sq ft | 20 sq ft |
| 72" × 36" | 92 sq ft | 104 sq ft | 21 sq ft |
Three walls, 10% extra, sq ft of tile to buy. Use the calculator above for your exact size.
How to measure a shower for tile
- Back wall: the long wall, usually the tub or pan length (60" for a standard tub).
- Side walls: the depth of the alcove, measured on both ends.
- Height: from the top of the tub or pan to where the tile stops. Many showers stop at 7 ft; tiling to the ceiling looks taller and is easier to clean.
The calculator unrolls the three walls into one strip (back + two sides) and multiplies by the height. It doesn't subtract the valve or niche; those offcuts make up for the cut waste.
Worked example: 60" × 32" tub surround, 8 ft high
- Walls: (5 + 2.67 + 2.67) ft × 8 ft = 83 sq ft
- With 10% extra: about 90 sq ft of 12" × 24" tile
- Floor (if tiled): 13.3 sq ft + 15% = 15 sq ft of 2" mosaic
- Backer board: 83 sq ft, or 7 sheets of 3' × 5'
Why the floor needs more extra
A shower floor slopes to the drain, and every tile around the drain and along the walls gets cut. Small mosaics on mesh sheets bend to the slope and give grip underfoot, which is why most shower floors use 2" tile or smaller. Allow about 15% extra for the floor against 10% for the walls.
Don't skip waterproofing
Tile and grout aren't waterproof. Behind them you need cement board or foam board, with a waterproofing membrane (sheet or liquid) over the walls and floor, lapped onto the tub flange or into the shower pan. Use 100% silicone, not grout, in the inside corners and where the tile meets the tub, because those joints move.
Large tiles on walls
For tiles 15" or longer, use a large-format tile mortar and leveling clips, and offset each row by no more than a third of the tile length so the slight bow in long tiles doesn't show as lips between rows.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet of tile for a shower?
A standard 60" × 32" alcove tiled 8 ft high has about 83 sq ft of wall. Buy about 90 sq ft with 10% extra, plus around 15 sq ft of floor tile if you're tiling the floor.
How high should shower tile go?
At least a few inches above the showerhead, so 7 ft is common. Tiling to the ceiling protects the drywall from steam and is easier to clean.
Do I need cement board in a shower?
You need a water-resistant backer such as cement board or foam board, plus a waterproofing membrane. Regular drywall and green board shouldn't be used behind tile in a shower.
Last reviewed 2026-10-23. See how we calculate for our sources and assumptions.