How to use this calculator
Measure your shower interior dimensions in inches. Enter the width (the wall you face), depth (how far back the shower goes), and how high you plan to tile. Most showers tile to 84 inches (7 feet) or all the way to the ceiling.
Choose how many walls to tile. A tub surround is typically 3 walls. A corner shower is 2 walls. A fully enclosed stall is 3 or 4 walls. Then enter the door or opening dimensions so those square feet are subtracted from your total.
If you have a recessed niche or a built in bench, check those boxes and enter the dimensions. The calculator accounts for the extra tile needed on niche interior surfaces and bench faces.
Choosing the right waste factor
A 10% waste factor works for simple layouts with large tiles (12x24 or 12x12) set in a straight pattern. If you are using subway tile in a brick pattern, bump it up to 12%. For herringbone, diagonal patterns, or showers with multiple niches and corners, use 15%.
It is always better to have leftover tile than to run short. Running out mid project means waiting days or weeks for a reorder, and there is no guarantee the new batch will match your existing tile perfectly.
Frequently asked questions
How much tile do I need for a standard shower?
A standard 60 x 36 inch shower with 84 inch high walls (3 walls tiled) needs roughly 105 square feet of wall tile. Using 12x24 inch tiles, that comes to about 53 tiles before waste. Add 10 to 15 percent for cuts and breakage.
What about the shower floor?
Shower floors are typically covered with small format tile like penny rounds or 2 inch hex mosaic on 12x12 sheets. For a 60 x 36 inch shower, the floor is 15 square feet, so you need about 15 to 17 mosaic sheets including waste.
How do I tile a shower niche?
A shower niche adds tileable surface area on all five interior faces (back, top, bottom, and two sides). While the niche opening subtracts from the main wall, the interior surfaces typically add more total area than what was removed.
What waste factor should I use for shower tile?
Use 10 percent waste for simple layouts with large format tile. Use 12 to 15 percent for subway tile patterns, diagonal layouts, or when you have multiple niches and corners that require extra cuts.