How many subway tiles for a 8 ft backsplash?
About 106 subway tiles (3×6 inch)
The short answer
A 8 ft long backsplash that is 18 inches tall covers 12 ft². Adding 10% for cuts gives 13.2 ft². A 3 × 6 inch subway tile covers 18 in², or 8 tiles per ft², so you need about 106 tiles. Take away any window or large gap in the run before you buy.
How it is worked out
- Area: 96 in × 18 in = 1,728 in² (12 ft²)
- Add 10% spare: 1,901 in²
- Divide by 18 in² per tile: 106 tiles
Other sizes and options
| Tile size (inches) | Tiles needed, 10% spare |
|---|---|
| 3×6 subway | 106 |
| 4×12 | 40 |
| 4×4 | 119 |
| 12×24 | 7 |
What can change the amount?
Grout joints make the real count slightly lower, which leaves you a little extra. Outlets and the range hood area usually still need cut tiles, so keep the 10% spare even when the wall has gaps.
See the tile on your wallRoomveil opens with these measurements filled in. Change them to match your room, see the result on a photo, and get the exact amount. Free, no sign-up.Open in Roomveil
Worked out with common rules of thumb and code minimums, for planning. Check the product label, the maker's instructions and your local building code before you buy or build. More detail in the Wall tile calculator guide.