How Much Tile Do I Need for a Shower?
Quick answer: measure the three tiled walls plus the floor, subtract the door opening, and add 10–15% waste. A standard 36×72 shower tiled to 6 ft takes about 60–70 sq ft of wall tile and 18 sq ft of floor tile — order roughly 80 sq ft total.
- Which walls count
- The measuring formula
- Tile sizes and box coverage
- Worked example: 36×72 shower
- Waste and common mistakes
- FAQ
Which walls count
A standard shower has three tiled walls: the back wall (width × height) and two side walls (depth × height). The ceiling tiles only if you choose — many showers stop tile at the top row. The floor is usually tiled too, so add its area. If you tile only to 6 ft instead of the full wall, use that height in the math.
The measuring formula
For each wall: width × tiled height = wall area. Add the three walls and the floor, then subtract the door opening (about 20 in × 80 in = 11 sq ft) and add 10–15% waste. The result in square feet is what you order — or divide by the tile's coverage per box (usually printed on the box, e.g. 11 sq ft for 12×24 tile).
Tile sizes and box coverage
| Tile size | Coverage per box | Shower favorite |
|---|---|---|
| 12×24 in | ~11 sq ft | Large-format, fewer grout lines |
| 12×12 in | ~10–12 sq ft | Classic, easy cuts |
| 3×6 subway | ~5–6 sq ft | Timeless look, more grout |
| 4×12 | ~8–9 sq ft | Modern stacked or herringbone |
Worked example: a 36×72 shower tiled to 72 inches
- Back wall: 72 in × 72 in = 36 sq ft
- Two side walls: 36 in × 72 in each = 36 sq ft
- Floor: 36 in × 72 in = 18 sq ft
- Subtotal 90 sq ft − door 11 sq ft = 79 sq ft
- Add 12% waste = 88 sq ft → about 8 boxes of 12×24 tile
Waste and common mistakes
- Under-counting cuts. Corners, the valve plate, the niche and the curb each produce partial tiles — that's why shower walls use 10–15% waste, more than floors.
- Forgetting the niche. A 12×16 niche adds 1.5 sq ft of tile plus its back and sides — small, but it bites into your last box.
- Diagonal or herringbone layouts. These waste 15–20% because every border tile is cut. Account for it before ordering.
- Ordering too little to match dye lots. Tile batches vary in shade. Buy all you need at once — matching a second run later is a gamble.
FAQ
Measure the three tiled walls plus the floor, subtract the door opening, and add 10–15% waste. A standard 36×72 shower tiled to 72 inches takes about 60–70 sq ft of wall tile and 18 sq ft of floor tile.
Measure each of the three walls you'll tile: width × height for the back wall, depth × height for each side wall. Add them, add the floor, subtract the door opening, then add 10–15% waste.
About 60–70 sq ft of wall tile for a 36-inch wide × 72-inch long shower tiled to 6 feet, plus about 18 sq ft for the floor. Order roughly 80 sq ft with waste.
Add 10–15% for shower walls — cuts at corners, around fixtures, and the niche eat material. Add 15% if you use a diagonal layout or large-format tile.
Tiling the shower ceiling adds about 18 sq ft to a standard shower and looks seamless, but it needs full waterproofing. Many DIYers stop tile at the top wall row and paint the ceiling instead.