Calculate three shower walls and an optional floor, with opening deductions, cutting waste and package counts.
Quick answer: For a three-wall shower, wall area = (back wall width + 2 × side wall width) × tiled height. A 5 ft back, two 3 ft sides and 8 ft tiled height total 88 sq ft. Subtract 4 sq ft of non-tiled openings to get 84; with 10% waste buy 92.4 sq ft, or ten boxes at 10 sq ft each. An optional 5 × 3 ft floor adds 15 sq ft before waste.
Switching units converts existing numeric inputs.
ft
ft
Three-wall shower: two equal side walls.
ft
sq ft
Count each non-tiled opening once. Niche returns are additional area.
in
in
sq ft
%
Net tile area
88.00 sq ft
Gross 88.00 minus openings 0
Buy area with waste
96.80 sq ft
Whole tiles
97
Area estimate; layout can require more pieces
Whole boxes
10
At 10 sq ft per box
Counts are area-based estimates, not a cut-layout optimizer. Add niche returns, benches, curbs and ceilings separately. For different wall and floor tiles, calculate separate orders. Openings must not overlap or be counted twice.
A shower tile calculator estimates the finish area of a three-wall alcove with two equal side walls. It keeps wall geometry separate from cutting waste and package rounding, and can add a rectangular floor when the same tile is used throughout. It does not estimate waterproofing or select a slip-resistant floor tile. Showers with unequal side walls, a ceiling, bench, curb or tiled niche returns need those extra surfaces measured separately. If wall and floor tiles differ, make separate orders rather than combining their package coverage.
Common uses for Shower Tile Calculator
Order wall tile for a rectangular three-wall alcove
Check the extra quantity from tiling up to the ceiling
Include a same-tile shower floor in the finish-area estimate
Keep floor mosaic and large-format wall tile orders separate
Measure walls without counting the doorway
The open front of an alcove is not included in the three-wall formula, so do not subtract it again as an opening. Subtract windows and other non-tiled surfaces that are actually inside the measured wall rectangles. A niche removes some flat wall but adds its back and returns, so measure its finished surfaces separately rather than treating the entire niche as missing tile.
Walls and floor may need different orders
The optional floor adds length times width before waste. It assumes the same tile and box coverage as the walls. Many installations use a separate floor mosaic to follow the slope, which requires its own sheet size, waste and package coverage. Keep the floor option off for the wall order and calculate the floor quantity separately with the general tile calculator.
A complete shower needs more than tile
This estimate excludes membranes, backer board, mortar, grout, sealant and trims. Follow the assembly manufacturer's requirements for waterproofing, drain transitions and movement joints. A precise tile count does not establish a waterproof shower. Cut complexity, niches and diagonal patterns may need more waste than the editable 10 percent starting allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tile for a 3 by 5 shower?
At an 8 ft tiled height, a 5 ft back and two 3 ft sides have 88 sq ft of wall area before openings. Add 10% waste for 96.8 sq ft, then round up using your box coverage. The optional floor adds another 15 sq ft before waste.
Should I subtract the shower doorway?
Not from this alcove formula: it counts only the back and two side walls. Subtracting the open front again would undercount the tile.
Are niches, benches and curbs included?
No. Measure their backs, tops, sides and returns separately and add those surfaces to the project estimate. Do not subtract a tiled niche as if it were an untiled window.
Can I combine different wall and floor tiles?
Use separate calculations when tile sizes, waste allowances or box coverage differ. The optional floor mode is for a single tile product shared by the walls and floor.