How to Measure for Tile Installation

Divide the area to be tiled into pieces that can be easily measured. This means measuring each shower wall separately from the next, as well as the shower floor, the bathroom floor and all other areas. If the floor of the room has a lot of jogs or angles, square off as many areas as possible; all the pieces will be added together in the end to make the final measurement.

Measure the length and width of each area in inches. Multiply the two measurements together, and divide by 144 to get the number of square feet needed for field tile.

For example, if a shower wall measures 52 inches wide and 84 inches high, the amount of square footage for this wall would be 30.33.

Add all the areas together. For example, if tiling a shower with three walls, find the square footage for each wall and add them together for the total number.

Add in additional material for waste. If the material has no pattern and is not a difficult to work with stone, such as slate, add 5 percent additional material. If the material will be laid in a pattern, such as a diagonal or a multi-piece pattern, or if the material is prone to breakage, add in an additional 20 percent of material for waste.

Measure for accent tiles and bullnose by measuring the linear footage of the area to be tiled in inches, and then divide this number by 12. For example, if a border will be laid around the shower walls and the walls measure 52 by 52 by 36 inches, the amount of linear footage needed for the border will be 11.66. Round up to the nearest full foot and add one extra piece for breakage. So in this example, you need 13 linear feet to border the shower.