Backsplash Tile Calculator
Size up a kitchen or bathroom backsplash in a couple of measurements. Enter the counter run and the height to the upper cabinets, and get the tile, sheet, or box count — whether you're using subway tile, mosaic sheets, or large format.
Plan your tile project in 3 easy steps
Enter the area, choose your tile, and get an instant quantity with waste included.
What are you tiling?
This helps us label your estimate.
Pick a shape & enter the floor dimensions
Choose the outline that best matches your area, then fill in the measurements.
Enter the length and width of the area.
Choose your tile size
Dimensions are usually printed on the tile box.
Measure your space
Select the units used on your tape measure.
Area dimensions
Measure the longest length and width. We calculate each area as a rectangle.
Choose your tile
Pick a common size or enter the package dimensions.
How to measure a backsplash
A backsplash is one of the friendlier tiling jobs to measure — it’s usually a long, shallow band. The standard move is to measure the length of each counter run and multiply by the height from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets, which tends to be about 18 inches. Add the taller strip behind the stove if your range hood wall goes higher.
- Measure each counter run — length along the wall.
- Measure the height from counter to upper cabinets (often ~18 in; taller behind the range).
- Multiply and add the runs for your total backsplash area.
- Subtract big openings — a window over the sink, for instance. Small outlet cutouts you can leave in as waste cover.
Worked example: a kitchen backsplash in subway tile
Side run: 4 ft × 1.5 ft = 6 sq ft
Window (deduct): 3 × 2.5 = −7.5 sq ft
Net area: 15 + 6 − 7.5 = 13.5 sq ft
3×6 subway (0.125 sq ft each): 13.5 ÷ 0.125 = 108 tiles
+10% waste: → ~119 tiles
If you’re using mesh-backed mosaic instead, each 12×12 sheet covers about a square foot, so you’d be looking at roughly 15 sheets with waste. Our backsplash guide covers sheet-mounted mosaics in detail, and the subway tile guide breaks down counts by size.
Backsplash tips worth a minute
Plan your layout around the focal point — usually the wall behind the range or the sink — so the full tiles land there and the cuts hide in the corners. Herringbone and diagonal layouts look great on a backsplash but waste more tile at the ends, so nudge your allowance up. And because a backsplash is small, the cost of one extra box is trivial next to the hassle of a second trip to match a dye lot. If you want to pick a layout first, see our tile layout patterns guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I measure a kitchen backsplash?
- Measure the length of the counter run and the height from the countertop to the underside of the upper cabinets — usually around 18 inches. Multiply for the area, add the sections behind the stove and any extra runs, and subtract windows or outlets you're tiling around. The calculator above turns that into a tile or sheet count.
- How many square feet is a typical kitchen backsplash?
- A standard kitchen backsplash runs about 25–35 square feet. A short galley might be closer to 15, while a large L-shaped kitchen with a window and a range hood wall can push past 40. Measure your own runs rather than relying on the average.
- How do I calculate mosaic sheet backsplash tile?
- Mosaic tile is usually sold on 12×12 inch mesh-backed sheets, so each sheet covers about 1 square foot. Take your backsplash area in square feet, add about 10% waste, and round up — that's roughly your sheet count. Enter the sheet as the tile size in the calculator to get an exact figure.
- How much extra backsplash tile should I buy?
- Around 10% for subway or square tile in a simple layout, and up to 15% for mosaic sheets or a herringbone pattern where you'll cut partial sheets around outlets and edges. A backsplash is small, so an extra sheet or two is cheap insurance against coming up short mid-job.
Tiling a different surface?
The math behind every tile estimate is the same — area, tile size, grout gap, and a waste buffer. These versions just come preset for a specific job, with tips and worked examples for that surface. Pick whichever is closest and the numbers come out the same.
Floor tile calculator
Work out floor tiles, boxes, and waste for any room — including L-shaped layouts.
Wall tile calculator
Estimate wall tiles wall-by-wall and subtract windows and doors as you go.
Bathroom tile calculator
Add up the floor, walls, and shower in one project and get a single tile count.
Shower tile calculator
Measure a shower surround, pan, and niche, then get tiles plus a realistic waste buffer.