How many tiles for a tub surround?
About 546 subway tiles (3×6), or 35 at 12×24
The short answer
A standard tub surround has three tiled walls: 60″ × 72″ + 32″ × 72″ + 32″ × 72″, which is 62 ft² in total. Adding 10% for cuts brings it to 68.2 ft². That is about 546 3 × 6 subway tiles, 205 4 × 12 tiles, or 35 large 12 × 24 tiles.
How it is worked out
- Wall areas: 60″ × 72″ + 32″ × 72″ + 32″ × 72″ = 8,928 in²
- In square feet: 62 ft²
- Add 10% spare: 68.2 ft²
Other sizes and options
| Tile size (inches) | Tiles needed, 10% spare |
|---|---|
| 3×6 subway | 546 |
| 4×12 | 205 |
| 4×4 | 614 |
| 12×24 | 35 |
What can change the amount?
Large tiles need more spare in a shower because of niches, valves and corners, so many installers order 15% for 12 × 24 tile. Buy trim pieces for the outside edges separately.
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.