Shower tile calculator
Add the back wall and both side walls at your tile height, plus niche returns, then add 10% for straight lay, 15% for diagonal or herringbone. A 60 x 32 inch shower stall tiled to 84 inches is about 72 square feet of wall, so order about 80, plus the floor. Over a tub, measure from the rim.
Updated · By the Interior Redesign AI editorial team · Sources cited on the page
Wall tile to order
9 boxes
81.5 sq ft with 10% extra: about 326 tiles.
| Back wall | 35 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Side walls | 37.3 sq ft |
| Niche returns (sides, top, sill) | 1.8 sq ft |
| Wall total | 74.1 sq ft |
| Shower floor | 13.3 sq ft |
| Floor to order (+15%) | 15.3 sq ft, 2 boxes |
- OKAt or above the IRC's 6 ft minimum for a nonabsorbent shower wall finish (R307.2).
Waste: 10% for straight lay and 15% for diagonal or herringbone, per a tile maker's guidance; the 15% on the floor is our assumption for slope and drain cuts. Tile counts ignore grout joints, so they round slightly high. Curbs, benches and trim pieces are not included.
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Key numbers
- Wall area
- Back wall width × height + each side wall depth × height
- Niche
- Add its four inside returns: 2 × (width + height) × depth; the back is already counted
- Extra to order (tile maker guidance)
- 10% straight lay; 15% diagonal or intricate patterns
- Shower floor extra
- 15%, our assumption for slope and drain cuts
- Minimum tile height (IRC R307.2)
- Nonabsorbent finish to at least 6 ft above the floor
- Standard alcove
- 60 in wide tub, 30-32 in deep
Worked example
A 60 × 32 in shower stall tiled to 84 in
Back and two side walls, one 12 × 24 in niche 3.5 in deep, 3 × 12 in wall tile in a straight lay, 12 × 12 in mosaic sheets on a 60 × 32 in shower floor, 10 sq ft boxes.
- Back wall: 60 × 84 ÷ 144 = 35 sq ft.
- Side walls: 2 × 32 × 84 ÷ 144 = 37.3 sq ft.
- Niche returns: 2 × (12 + 24) × 3.5 ÷ 144 = 1.8 sq ft. Wall total 74.1 sq ft.
- Order walls: 74.1 × 1.10 = 81.5 sq ft = 326 tiles, 9 boxes.
- Floor: 60 × 32 ÷ 144 = 13.3 sq ft × 1.15 = 15.3 sq ft, 2 boxes.
Order 9 boxes of wall tile and 2 boxes of floor mosaic.
How we calculate
We add the back wall (width × tile height) and each tiled side wall (depth × tile height). For an enclosed shower with a tiled front wall, we add that wall and take off the door opening, counting only the part of the door below the tile line. A recessed niche adds its four inside returns; its back replaces wall tile already counted.
Then we add extra for cuts and breakage: 10% for a straight or offset lay and 15% for diagonal or herringbone, following clé tile's published guidance. The shower floor gets 15%: that is our assumption, because the slope to the drain and the drain cuts behave like an intricate pattern. Tile counts divide by the tile's face size and ignore grout joints, so they round slightly high.
Over a bathtub, tile starts at the tub rim, about 14-16 in up, so enter the height from the rim to the top of the tile and switch the floor off. Boxes use the square footage printed on the box. Curbs, benches, bullnose and trim pieces are not included; count them separately.
Estimates, sources
Planning estimates and published guidelines, not quotes, designs or code rulings. Figures were checked on each source on the date shown. Local prices, your home and your jurisdiction's adopted code decide the real answer.
- How much extra tile to buy (clé tile, as of Oct 26, 2026): order 10% more tile than measured for cuts, breakage and corners; 15% for intricate patterns or diagonal layouts (published Sep 24, 2024)
- 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 3 (R303.3, R307.1, Figure R307.1, R307.2) (International Code Council (ICC), as of Oct 26, 2026): Figure R307.1: 15 in from toilet centerline to a side wall, 21 in clearance in front of the toilet and lavatory, 24 in clearance in front of the shower opening, 30 in shower minimum; R307.2: walls above tubs with shower heads and in showers finished with a nonabsorbent surface to at least 6 ft above the floor; R303.3: a bathroom needs 3 sq ft of window (half openable) unless it has artificial light and a local exhaust system sized per M1505
- Standard Bathtub Sizes (This Old House, as of Oct 26, 2026): most standard alcove tubs measure 60 in long, 30-32 in wide and 14-16 in deep (updated 06/05/2026)
Shower wall tile by size and height
Wall area for a three-wall alcove before the floor and niche. The order column adds 10% for a straight lay.
| Shower and tile height | Wall area | Order (+10%) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 × 30 in, to 72 in | 60 sq ft | 66 sq ft |
| 60 × 32 in, to 84 in | 72.3 sq ft | 79.6 sq ft |
| 60 × 32 in, to 96 in | 82.7 sq ft | 90.9 sq ft |
| 36 × 36 in, to 84 in | 63 sq ft | 69.3 sq ft |
| 48 × 36 in, to 96 in | 80 sq ft | 88 sq ft |
How high should shower tile go?
The IRC (R307.2) sets the floor: walls in showers and over tubs with shower heads need a nonabsorbent finish to at least 6 ft above the floor. Many people tile higher, to the ceiling or a few inches above the shower head, which looks cleaner and protects the wall from steam; enter the height you want.
How to use this tool
Measure the walls
Back wall width, side wall depth and the height you want to tile to.
Add the extras
A tiled front wall with its door, any niches and whether the floor is tiled.
Pick the tile and pattern
Wall and floor tile sizes, the pattern and the sq ft per box.
Order
Wall and floor tile in boxes, with waste included.
Questions
How do I calculate tile for a shower?
Multiply the back wall width by the tile height, add each side wall depth times the height, add the niche returns, then add 10% (straight lay) or 15% (diagonal or herringbone) for cuts. Divide by the sq ft per box.
How many square feet of tile for a standard tub surround?
Tile over a tub starts at the rim, about 15 in up. A 60 × 30 in alcove tiled to 72 in above the floor has 57 in of tile height: 60 × 57 ÷ 144 = 23.8 sq ft for the back and 11.9 for each side, 47.5 sq ft in all, so order about 53 sq ft with 10% extra.
How much extra tile should I buy for a shower?
About 10% for a straight lay and 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns. Small showers with many cuts, niches and a sloped floor can use more; we use 15% for the floor.
How high does shower tile need to go?
The IRC requires a nonabsorbent finish to at least 6 ft above the floor in showers and over tubs with shower heads. Going to the ceiling is a design choice.
Does a shower niche need more tile?
Yes, its four inside returns: two sides, a top and a sill. A 12 × 24 in niche 3.5 in deep adds 1.75 sq ft, plus extra cuts.
Should I use this or the regular tile calculator?
Use this one for showers and tub surrounds, since it adds up the walls, niche and floor for you. For floors, backsplashes or any single area, the regular tile calculator is simpler.
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