Tile guide
Bathroom tile buying checklist.
Bathrooms often have more cuts than open rooms. Plan tile, trim, grout, waterproofing, and spare pieces together.
Measure the bathroom in separate zones
Bathroom tile estimates are easy to undercount because the room is small but detailed. Floors, shower walls, tub surrounds, niches, backsplashes, curbs, and thresholds may use different tile sizes or trim pieces. Measure each zone separately before combining the order.
Do not rely only on the floor area. A bathroom with a 40 sq ft floor can still have hundreds of square feet of wall tile if the shower area is tiled to the ceiling.
| Checklist item | Why it matters | Planning tip |
|---|---|---|
| Floor square footage | Sets the base tile area for the floor. | Measure length x width, then subtract only large areas that will not receive tile. |
| Wall and shower square footage | Wall tile often exceeds floor tile in bathrooms. | Measure each wall face separately, especially around tubs and showers. |
| Waste allowance | Covers cuts around drains, corners, niches, and fixtures. | Use at least 10-15%, more for diagonal or patterned layouts. |
| Trim and edging | Finished edges need bullnose, metal trim, or other profiles. | Measure exposed edges in linear feet, not square feet. |
| Waterproofing and setting materials | Tile is not the only purchase. | Include membrane, thinset, grout, spacers, sealant, and tools. |
Before you order
- Confirm whether floor tile and wall tile are the same product.
- Check slip rating and suitability for wet areas.
- Confirm box coverage, pieces per box, and dye lot availability.
- Count niche, curb, threshold, and transition pieces.
- Keep at least a few full spare tiles for future repairs.
Example workflow
Start with the floor area, then add each tiled wall face. Apply the waste rate to each tile type separately. Convert square footage to pieces, then convert pieces to full boxes. Finally, add trim by linear length and waterproofing materials by product coverage.
This separate-zone method takes a few more minutes, but it prevents a common mistake: ordering enough field tile while forgetting edge trim, niche pieces, or extra material for cuts.