How Many Tiles for a Bathroom? (Floor & Shower Wall)

The number of tiles depends on your bathroom's square footage and the tile size. Add 10% for straight lay or 15% for diagonal patterns and complex bathrooms.

Bathroom floor tile count (straight lay, 10% waste)

12×12 tiles (1 sq ft per tile)

Bathroom size	Sq ft	12×12 tiles
4 × 6 ft	24 sq ft	27 tiles
5 × 7 ft	35 sq ft	39 tiles
5 × 8 ft	40 sq ft	44 tiles
6 × 8 ft	48 sq ft	53 tiles
8 × 10 ft	80 sq ft	88 tiles
10 × 10 ft	100 sq ft	110 tiles

18×18 tiles (2.25 sq ft per tile)

Bathroom size	18×18 tiles
5 × 8 ft	20 tiles
8 × 10 ft	40 tiles
10 × 10 ft	49 tiles

3×6 subway tiles (0.125 sq ft per tile)

Area	Subway tiles needed
20 sq ft (small backsplash)	176 tiles
40 sq ft (bathroom floor)	352 tiles
60 sq ft (shower walls)	528 tiles

Shower wall tile estimate

For a standard 36×36 inch shower with 8-foot ceilings:

3 walls × (3 ft wide × 8 ft tall) = 72 sq ft (approx, before door/window deductions)
With 15% waste: ~83 sq ft
In 12×12 tiles: 83 tiles

Thinset and grout for bathroom tile

Bathroom size	Thinset (50 lb bags)	Grout (10 lb bags)
5 × 8 ft	2 bags	1 bag
8 × 10 ft	2 bags	2 bags
10 × 10 ft	3 bags	2 bags

Use the Tile Calculator to enter your exact bathroom dimensions and get tile count, thinset, and grout for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many 12×12 tiles for a 5×8 bathroom?

A 5×8 ft bathroom floor is 40 sq ft. With 10% waste, you need 44 sq ft. Since each 12×12 tile = 1 sq ft, you need 44 tiles.

How many tiles for a 10×10 bathroom floor?

A 10×10 ft floor is 100 sq ft. With 10% waste (straight lay), you need 110 tiles of 12×12 inch tile. For 18×18 tiles (2.25 sq ft each): 49 tiles.

How many subway tiles for a bathroom backsplash?

A standard 3×6 subway tile covers 0.125 sq ft per tile. For a 5-foot wide, 18-inch tall backsplash (7.5 sq ft + 10% waste = 8.25 sq ft), you need about 66 tiles.

Should I use 10% or 15% waste for bathroom tile?

Use 10% for simple rectangular bathrooms with straight tile layout. Use 15% for diagonal patterns, L-shaped bathrooms, or bathrooms with many cuts around the toilet, vanity, and tub.

How many boxes of tile for a bathroom?

Divide your total tile count by the tiles per box. Large format tiles (18×18, 24×24) often come 3–6 per box; smaller tiles may come 10–15 per box. Check the box label for exact count.