How Much Tile Do I Need for My Shower?

Planning on remodelling the bathroom? As a first step, you must be thinking of buying some fabulous titles. But you can't purchase them until you know how many tiles should you collect from the store. That means you need to calculate the tiles required for the area.

If this sounds like you, and you are thinking—how many tiles do I need for my shower, then this article is for you.

To give you a clear concept, we have examined with an example to demonstrate the number of tiles required for a specific shower using the DBL tiles calculator.

Let's get started!

Calculating tiles required for my shower using the DBL tile calculator

If you know the exact number, you can have the approximate cost for the tiles. Let's begin the calculation regarding how many tiles you will require to cover your shower:

Step 1: Measuring the length and width of the room

If it is for a floor, then measure one side. Then measure the other side. The longest measure is the length of the room.

Step 2: Measure the height of the wall

For a wall, measure the wall height as you need to calculate the wall area too.

Step 3: Multiply the two measurements

In the case of the floor, multiplying the length and width will provide you with the square footage of the floor area.

Area of the floor = Room Length x Room Width

Area of a single floor tile = (Tile length + Grout size) x (Tile width + Grout size)

In the case of a wall, multiplying the width and height will provide you with the square footage of the project space.

Area of a wall = Room length or width x Height  [as there are four walls]

Area of a single wall tile = (Tile Width + Grout size) x (Tile Height + Grout size)

Step 4: Calculate the number of tiles

To calculate the number of tiles on the floor, you have to divide the floor area by the area of each tile.

Number of tiles for floor = Area of the Floor / Area of tile

While calculating the number of tiles required for the wall, you have to divide the wall area by the area of each tile.

Number of tiles for a single wall= Area of the Wall / Area of tile

N.B: Since a shower consists of four walls, you must calculate each separately.

Still have doubts? Have a look at the below example and get it clarified right now:

Example:

Let's begin our calculation with the floor tiles first using the DBL tiles calculator:

Step 1: Calculate tiles for the floor:

Suppose,

• Room Length: 15ft
• Room width: 10ft
• Grout size: 1mm (0.003ft approx.)

For 60cm x 60cm tiles:

• Tile area: (60cm+0.1) x (60cm+0.1) = 3612 cm2

or

 1.9717 ft x 1.9717 ft = 3.87sq ft

• Total room area: 15ft x 10ft = 150sq ft
• Number of tiles required: 150sq ft / 3.87sq ft = 38.56 or 39 tiles
• Number of boxes required: 10 (each box contains 4 tiles)

Step 2: Calculate tiles for the walls:

Now, for the wall, let's assume them as WA1, WA2, WA3 and WA4, as we need to calculate them separately. Also, the area of the two opposite walls will be the same.

However, there must be a wall contains a door or entrance. So, we have to subtract the area of a door from the wall area containing a door. Suppose the wall is WA1.

Let's assume,

The calculation of the wall WA3 and WA4 will be the same. So you don't have to calculate again as they will be the same value.

Calculating WA1:

We will take the same values as the WA2 in calculating the WA1 but with a slight change. As in the WA1, we will include a door. So, there will be a variation in the total calculation.

After all, no shower could be without a door. Otherwise, how will you enter and get out of the room, Right!

For your better understanding, we have breakdown the entire process with detailed calculations.

Let's consider,

• Room Width: 10ft
• Room Height: 15ft
• Grout size: 1mm (0.003ft approx.)
• The measurement of tile we will be using are 30cm x 50cm

For 30cm x 50cm tiles:

• Tile area: (30+0.1) x (50+0.1) = 1508.01cm2

or

0.9875ft x 1.6473ft = 1.63sq ft

• Total room area, WA1: 10ft x 15ft = 150sq ft

Let's assume the area of the door, WAD: 20sq ft

Hence, the total room area of W1 will be: WA1 – WAD

=150sq ft – 20sq ft

= 130sq ft

So, number of tiles required: 130ft/ 1.63ft = 79.75 or 80 tiles

Number of boxes required: 8 (each box contains 10 tiles)