Backsplash Tile Calculator
Enter the length and height of the wall strip, any window, hood or outlet cut-outs, and a small tile with its joint, and get the whole tiles and boxes to buy, with a waste allowance you can change.
A ready-made setup of the Tile Calculator.
Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.
Example: a kitchen backsplash
3 3x6 tile, box
- Area to tile 30 ft²
- Tiles to cover it 232.68 tiles
- Tiles with the waste allowance 256 tiles
Estimate for planning, from what you entered and the product data shown. Check product labels and your supplier before you buy.
Your project
Enter a size to see your total.
Each product is rounded up once for the whole project, so the total can be less than the items bought alone added together. A line counted from a cut layout (sheets, boards or tiles laid out piece by piece) is counted for each item and added.
Shopping list
| Item | Size | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Tile, by the box | 3x6 tile, box | 3 |
Save on this device
Saved projects
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Worked example: a kitchen backsplash
Show the working
- Strip area: run times height 10 ft × 3 ft = 30 ft²
- Area one tile takes, joint included 6.063 in × 3.063 in = 18.57 in²
- Tiles to cover the area 30 ft² ÷ 18.57 in² = 232.68 tiles
- Add the waste allowance, once, and round up to whole tiles 232.68 tiles × 1.1 = 256 tiles
- Boxes: divide by the tiles in a box, round up once 256 tiles ÷ 100 = 3 × 3x6 tile, box
Assumptions
The figures behind the example. Sourced figures link to their source below; a default is a starting value to check against your label or supplier.
| Assumption | Value | Details and changes |
|---|---|---|
| Tile waste allowance | 10% | |
| Default A typical allowance, not a figure from a standard; check your label or supplier. Change it to the allowance you want. | ||
| Grout joint width | 0.125 in | |
| Default Your own grout joint; check the spacing on your tile label or supplier. | ||
| Tiles per box | 8 tiles | |
| Default Tiles per box is on your tile label or supplier's sheet; the list below offers common counts. | ||
Feet and inches, like 12' 6"
What a cut-out takes off the backsplash
Area and tiles for the example strip with one cut-out taken off, worked out on their own
| Cut-out (width, height) | Area taken off | Area to tile | Tiles | Tiles saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window, 30x20 | 4.17 ft² | 25.83 ft² | 221 | 35 |
| Range hood opening, 30x18 | 3.75 ft² | 26.25 ft² | 224 | 32 |
| Outlet, 3x5 | 0.1 ft² | 29.9 ft² | 256 | 0 |
| Two outlets, 3x5 | 0.21 ft² | 29.79 ft² | 255 | 1 |
Each row takes that cut-out off the whole strip and counts the tiles again, with the same joint and waste allowance.
Questions
Do outlets and windows come off the tile count?
Yes, if you give their sizes. Fill in a cut-out's width and height, pick the number of outlet cut-outs, and the area comes off the strip before the tiles are counted. A cut-out larger than the strip is refused.
Does the joint matter for small tile?
More than for large tile. Each small tile takes its own size plus the joint on two sides, so a narrow joint against a small tile still changes the count noticeably. The calculator uses the joint you type.