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Shower Tile Calculator

Estimate tile for shower walls or a bathtub surround — back wall, side walls and tiled height — with openings subtracted.

Formulas reviewed 13 November 2026 · See the formula

Shower Tile Calculator

Walls
in
in

Enter 0 for a glass side or open side.

in
in

Measure from the tray or tub to the top row of tile.

ft²
Tile
in
in
in

Fractions such as 1/8 or 3/16 are accepted. Use 0 to ignore joints.

Allowances
%

Showers involve many cuts around valves, corners and niches; 15 % is a sensible starting point.

Boxes & cost (optional)
Cost estimate (optional)
USD each

Enter your local price to estimate cost. Prices vary by supplier and region.

USD each

Used when tiles per box is not set.

Results

Tiles to buy (incl. waste)
82 tiles
Area to tile
72.3 ft²6.72 m²
Tiles without waste70.8 tiles before rounding
71 tiles
  • The shower floor is not included — use the Tile Calculator for the floor, which often uses smaller mosaic tile.

Estimates only. Prices are your own inputs in USD; material properties vary by product and supplier.

About the shower tile calculator

Showers are small but tile-hungry: many cuts around the valve, corners, niches and edges mean more waste than a plain floor. This calculator adds up the wall areas you enter, subtracts any untiled openings such as a window, and applies a higher default waste allowance of 15 %.

How to use it

  1. Measure the back wall and each side wall width. Enter 0 for a glass or open side.
  2. Measure the tiled height from the tray or tub to the planned top row.
  3. Subtract the area of any window or opening that will not be tiled.
  4. Enter the tile size, joint width and box details.

Formula

Wall area

A = (back + left + right) × height − openings

Tiles to buy

N = ⌈ A ÷ [(L + joint) × (W + joint)] × (1 + waste %) ⌉
  • The shower floor is excluded because it often uses a different (smaller) tile laid to a slope. Calculate it with the Tile Calculator.

Worked example: 60 in back wall, two 32 in sides, tiled to 84 in, 12 × 12 in tile

  1. Area = (60 + 32 + 32) × 84 = 10,416 in² = 72.3 ft²
  2. Effective tile with 1/8 in joint = 147.0 in² → 70.9 tiles
  3. +15 % waste = 81.5 → 82 tiles

Result: Buy 82 tiles for the walls.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Niches are counted as flat wall; the extra returns inside a niche need a few more tiles — add them to the waste allowance.
  • Waterproofing and substrate requirements are not covered; follow the tile and membrane manufacturers' installation instructions.

Frequently asked questions

How high should shower tile go?

It is a design choice within the requirements of your local code and the waterproofing system. Many showers are tiled to at least the height of the shower head; floor-to-ceiling is common.

How much extra tile for a shower?

15 % is a practical starting point because of the many cuts. Large-format tiles or complex niches may need more.

Does the calculator include the shower floor?

No. Use the Tile Calculator for the floor, which is often tiled with smaller mosaic tile.

Sources and further reading

Results are estimates for planning purposes. See our disclaimer for details.