How Many Bathroom Tiles Do You Need?
Enter your bathroom size, pick which areas to tile, and get tiles and boxes to order — floor, walls, and shower in one calculator.
Last updated: May 30, 2026
Room Size
Areas to Tile
Floor
Walls
Shower
Tile Order Summary
44
total tiles to order
Floor
Tiles to order44 tiles
Boxes4 boxes (12/box)
Area40 sq ft
5×8 ft · floor · 10% waste included
Worked Examples
5×8 Bathroom — Floor Only
Room: 5 ft × 8 ft · 12"×12" tile · 10% waste · 12 tiles/box
- Floor area: 5 × 8 = 40 sq ft
- 12"×12" tile = 1 sq ft each → 40 base tiles
- +10% waste: ceil(40 × 1.10) = 44 tiles to order
- Boxes: 44 ÷ 12 = 4 boxes
Standard Shower — Subway Tile Walls
Shower: 3 ft wide × 5 ft deep × 8 ft high · 3"×6" subway · 10% waste · 48 tiles/box
- 3 walls: back (3×8=24 sq ft) + 2 sides (2×5×8=80 sq ft) = 104 sq ft
- 3"×6" tile = 0.125 sq ft each → 832 base tiles
- +10% waste: ceil(832 × 1.10) = 916 tiles to order
- Boxes: 916 ÷ 48 = 20 boxes
5×8 Bathroom — Floor + All Walls
Floor: 12"×12" · Walls: 3"×6" subway · 8 ft ceiling · 10% waste
- Floor: 40 sq ft → 44 tiles → 4 boxes (12/box)
- Walls: 2×(5+8)×8 = 208 sq ft gross − door 17.8 sq ft = 190 sq ft net
- Wall tiles: 190 sq ft ÷ 0.125 = 1,522 base × 1.10 = 1,675 tiles → 35 boxes (48/box)
- Total: 1,719 tiles · 4 floor boxes + 35 wall boxes
Bathroom Tile Size Guide
| Size | Best Area | Tiles / sq ft | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3"×6" Subway | Wall / Shower | 8 | Classic bathroom wall — timeless, easy to find |
| 4"×4" | Wall | 9 | Traditional look, easy to cut around fixtures |
| 6"×6" | Wall / Floor | 4 | Versatile — works on walls and small floors |
| 12"×12" | Floor | 1 | Most popular bathroom floor — 1 tile = 1 sq ft |
| 12"×24" | Floor | 0.5 | Modern look, fewer grout lines, makes room feel larger |
| 18"×18" | Floor | 0.44 | Large format, luxurious feel in master bathrooms |
Waste Factor Guide
| Situation | Waste | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Simple straight layout | 10% | Edge cuts and fixture cutouts |
| Diagonal pattern | 15% | Angled cuts along all edges |
| Many fixtures, niches, or curves | 15% | More cutouts per sq ft than a plain wall |
| Mosaic or small tiles | 15% | More cuts proportionally; harder to match partial pieces |
Always order one extra box from the same dye lot — matching tiles later is nearly impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 5 ft × 8 ft bathroom floor is 40 sq ft. With 12"×12" tiles (1 sq ft each) and 10% waste, you need 44 tiles or 4 boxes at 12 per box. Enter your bathroom dimensions above and select Floor to get an exact count.
Not always. Floor tiles need to be slip-resistant and rated for foot traffic — common sizes are 12"×12" and 12"×24". Wall tiles can be smoother and glazed — classic 3"×6" subway is the most popular. This calculator lets you set a different tile size for each area.
Use 10% for a simple straight layout with few cuts. Go up to 15% for diagonal patterns, mosaic tile, or bathrooms with lots of fixtures and inside corners. Small bathrooms tend to waste more proportionally because of edge cuts.
Measure the back wall (width × height) and both side walls (depth × height), then add them. A standard 3×5 ft shower tiled to 8 ft = 104 sq ft across 3 walls. Enable Shower above and enter your shower dimensions — the calculator handles the 3-wall math.
Larger tiles (12"×12" or 12"×24") can make small bathrooms feel bigger by reducing grout lines. Smaller tiles (4"×4") give a traditional look but show more grout. For walls in tight spaces, 3"×6" subway remains the most versatile choice.
It varies by size. Large 12"×24" tiles: 6–8 per box. Standard 12"×12": 10–15 per box. Subway 3"×6": 36–48 per box. Check your tile's box coverage label before ordering. Use Advanced settings to enter the exact tiles-per-box for your product.