How many tiles for a kitchen backsplash? (subway, 4x12, mosaic)
A backsplash along 10 ft of counter at the usual 18 inches high is 15 sq ft, which takes 128 subway tiles (3 x 6 in) with 10% cutting waste, or 48 tiles of 4 x 12, or 17 mosaic sheets. A 15 ft counter is 22.5 sq ft and 192 subway tiles; with the taller section behind a range hood it becomes 28.8 sq ft and 246. The tables cover 8 to 30 ft of counter, four tile formats, boxes, and metric splashbacks.
Tiles by counter length, 18 inches high
Counts include 10% cutting waste. Subway tile uses a 1/16 inch joint, the 4 x 12 and 4 x 16 a 1/8 inch joint; mosaic sheets are 12 x 12 in with the joints built in.
| Counter | Area (sq ft) | 3 x 6 in subway | 4 x 12 in | 4 x 16 in | 12 x 12 in mosaic sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 12 | 103 | 39 | 29 | 14 |
| 10 ft | 15 | 128 | 48 | 36 | 17 |
| 12 ft | 18 | 154 | 58 | 43 | 20 |
| 15 ft | 22.5 | 192 | 72 | 54 | 25 |
| 20 ft | 30 | 256 | 96 | 72 | 33 |
| 25 ft | 37.5 | 320 | 119 | 90 | 42 |
| 30 ft | 45 | 384 | 143 | 108 | 50 |
With a range hood section
Where the tile runs up behind the hood, add a 30 x 30 in panel (6.3 sq ft). Taller hoods or a full-height wall behind the range: measure the panel and add it in the calculator.
| Counter | Area (sq ft) | 3 x 6 in subway | 4 x 12 in | 4 x 16 in | 12 x 12 in mosaic sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 18.3 | 156 | 58 | 44 | 21 |
| 10 ft | 21.3 | 182 | 68 | 51 | 24 |
| 12 ft | 24.3 | 207 | 77 | 58 | 27 |
| 15 ft | 28.8 | 246 | 92 | 69 | 32 |
| 20 ft | 36.3 | 310 | 115 | 87 | 40 |
| 25 ft | 43.8 | 374 | 139 | 105 | 49 |
| 30 ft | 51.3 | 438 | 163 | 123 | 57 |
Boxes to order
Tiles per box differ by brand; these are common counts for about 10 sq ft a box. Round up and keep a few tiles for the day a pan hits the wall.
| Counter | 3 x 6 in subway (80/box) | 4 x 12 in (30/box) | 4 x 16 in (24/box) | 12 x 12 in mosaic sheet (10/box) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 ft | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 ft | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 ft | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 20 ft | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 25 ft | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 30 ft | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
How the numbers are worked out
Counter length x 18 inches gives the area; each tile plus its joint on two sides is one cell, and area divided by the cell is the count. A 3 x 6 subway tile with a 1/16 inch joint is a cell of 3.0625 x 6.0625 in, so 7.76 tiles per square foot before waste. The tile calculator takes any tile size, joint and box count; the 12x12 tile guide and the shower guide cover floors and wet walls.
Measuring the wall
- Measure along the counter, including the short return walls at each end; do not subtract outlets and switches, the cut pieces are waste anyway.
- Subtract a window only if it takes more than a square foot out of the 18 inch band; most kitchen windows sit above the band.
- If the tile will run to the ceiling on one wall, measure that wall separately and add it as a second area in the calculator.
- Buy the trim (bullnose or pencil) by the linear foot: the top edge plus any exposed end, about the counter length for a standard run.
Metric: 600 mm splashback
Tiles with 10% waste for a 600 mm high splashback, 2 mm joints; mosaic sheets 300 x 300 mm.
| Worktop run | Area (m²) | 100 x 200 mm | 100 x 300 mm | 300 x 300 mm mosaic sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 1.2 | 65 | 43 | 15 |
| 3 m | 1.8 | 97 | 65 | 22 |
| 4 m | 2.4 | 129 | 86 | 30 |
| 5 m | 3 | 161 | 108 | 37 |
| 6 m | 3.6 | 193 | 129 | 44 |
| 8 m | 4.8 | 257 | 172 | 59 |
Frequently asked questions
- How many subway tiles for a backsplash?
- About 7.8 tiles of 3 x 6 in per square foot with a 1/16 inch joint. A 10 ft counter at 18 inches (15 sq ft) is 117 tiles before waste and 128 with 10%; a 20 ft counter is 256. Subway tile is sold in boxes of about 80 (10 sq ft), so that is 2 and 4 boxes.
- How many square feet is a typical kitchen backsplash?
- Counter length in feet x 1.5 (18 inches), plus about 6.3 sq ft if the tile runs up behind a range hood. A 10 ft galley is 15 sq ft, an L-shaped 15 ft kitchen 22.5, and a 20 ft kitchen with a hood 36.3. Most kitchens land between 25 and 45 sq ft; if yours is over 60, check whether you counted the windows.
- How many boxes of tile for a backsplash?
- Divide the tile count with waste by the tiles per box, round up. Boxes vary by brand, so this page uses 80 subway tiles, 30 of the 4 x 12 and 10 mosaic sheets per box, about 10 sq ft each. The 15 ft counter is 3 boxes of subway or 3 of mosaic; check the count on your box and enter it in the calculator.
- How much waste should I add for a backsplash?
- 10% for a straight run with a simple pattern; 15% for a herringbone or diagonal layout, a lot of outlets, or a hood section with cuts on both sides. Backsplash cuts are small and many, and a box short is a second trip with a different dye lot, so round up to whole boxes and keep the leftovers for repairs.
- How many 4x12 tiles do I need for a backsplash?
- 48 for a 10 ft counter and 96 for 20 ft, at 18 inches high with a 1/8 inch joint and 10% waste. The 4 x 16 format is 36 and 72. Bigger tiles mean fewer joints and less grout, but every cut around an outlet shows more.
- How many mosaic sheets for a backsplash?
- One 12 x 12 in sheet covers a square foot, so sheets equal the area plus waste: 17 for a 10 ft counter, 25 for 15 ft and 40 for 20 ft with a hood section. Sheets are cut with snips between the chips, so the waste is real but small; 10% is enough.
More guides
- How many tiles per square metre? 30x30, 60x60 and other sizes
Tiles per square metre for the common sizes with a 3 mm grout gap, how many to order for 10 m² with cutting waste, and when to allow more than 10%.
- How many 12x12 tiles for 100 square feet? (12x24, 18x18, 24x24 too)
Tiles needed for 100, 200, 300 and 500 sq ft in 12x12, 12x24, 18x18 and 24x24 inch sizes with a 1/8 inch grout line and 10% waste, and how to turn that into boxes.
- How many tiles do I need for a shower? 12x24, subway and 12x12
Wall area of 32x60, 36x36 and 36x48 in showers with 8 ft walls, tiles needed in 12x24, 3x6 subway, 12x12 and 2x2 mosaic sheets with 10 to 15% waste, and the floor on top.
- How many pavers do I need for a 10x10 patio? 12x12, 16x16, 24x24
Pavers for a 10x10, 12x12, 16x16 and 20x20 ft patio in 4x8, 6x9, 12x12, 16x16 and 24x24 inch sizes with a 1/8 in joint and 5% waste, plus the base to go under them.
Last updated 2026-09-13. Figures are planning estimates from typical product data: check the yield, size or coverage printed on what you buy and round up.