# Backsplash tile calculator

> 12′ of backsplash, 18″ tall: 18 sq ft of tile, the adhesive, grout and edge trim, and 4 outlet box extenders. Tile, adhesive, grout, edge trim and outlet extenders for the wall between the counter and the cabinets, counted from the run and height.

## What to buy (12′ of backsplash, 18″ tall)

Every line shows the quantity to buy and how StudSheet got it: the spacing, the waste and the package size, so you can check it before the supply house or the quote.

| Buy | Material | How StudSheet counts it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| **143 tiles (18 sq ft)** | Wall tile (3×6 subway, ceramic or porcelain) | 12′ of counter wall × 1′ 6″ tall, less 3′ of window, + 2.5 sq ft behind the range up to the hood = 16 sq ft + 10% for cuts = 141 tiles, + 2 spares (8 tiles per sq ft). Buy from one lot number. | Ceramic or porcelain tile for walls, backsplashes and showers (the floor tile Sheet lists floor tile). |
| **1 × 1 gal pail** | Premixed thinset adhesive (pails, for wall tile) | 16 sq ft ÷ about 40 sq ft per gallon with a 3/16″ × 5/32″ V-notch = 0.4 gal (premixed adhesive, Custom SimpleSet’s figures). | Ready-to-use adhesive in a pail (Custom SimpleSet type) for wall tile, mosaics and backsplashes; no mixing. Not for glass, large or heavy tile. |
| **1 × 10 lb bag** | Unsanded grout (1/16″ joints) | Joint volume: (3+6)″ × 1/16″ wide × 1/4″ deep per tile ≈ 1.13 cu in per sq ft × 16 sq ft ≈ 1.3 lb with 15% extra. Unsanded below ⅛″. | For joints under ⅛″ and polished stone. |
| **1** | Grout sealer (penetrating) | Cement grout stains; seal it once it cures (see the grout bag). | Slows staining in cement grout. |
| **1 bag** | Tile spacers (1/16″) | Holds the first row ⅛″ off the counter and keeps the joints even (lugged subway tile spaces itself). | Keep joints even. |
| **1 length** | Metal tile edge trim (8′ 2-1/2″ lengths, 1/4″ tall) | 3′ of open edge ÷ 8′ 2-1/2″ (2.5 m) lengths, as sold. Match the tile’s thickness. | An L-shaped metal edge (Schluter JOLLY or Schiene type) set in the thinset under the last row: a clean, chip-proof open edge. |
| **4 extenders** | Outlet box extender (single or double, to match each box) | One per outlet and switch: tile and adhesive add about ⅜″, and the box has to come forward to the tile face. Longer device screws come with them. | A plastic ring that brings an outlet or switch box forward to the new tile face so the device sits tight. |
| **1 tube** | 100% silicone, color-matched (color-matched to the grout) | 15′ of joint (the counter and two inside corners) + 15% at about 55 ft per 10.1 oz tube (3/16″ bead). The joint at the counter moves: silicone, not grout. | Flexible movement joint at walls and the tub. |
| **1 roll** | Painter’s tape 1.41″ × 60 yd | Holds cardboard or plastic over the counter and the range, and masks the cabinet edges. | Masks trim and ceilings. |
| **1 sheet** | Plastic sheeting 9×12 (for the counter) | Covers the counter and the sink while you cut, set and grout. | Covers furniture. |

### In Canada (3.66 m of backsplash, 457 mm tall)

Set to Canada, the Sheet works the job out again for Ontario: metric sizes, bag sizes, the frost depth and the code notes. It doesn't just convert feet to meters. The first lines:

- **143 tiles (1.7 m²), Wall tile:** 3.66 m of counter wall × 457 mm tall, less 914 mm of window, + 0.2 m² behind the range up to the hood = 1.5 m² + 10% for cuts = 141 tiles, + 2 spares (86 tiles per m²). Buy from one lot number.
- **1 × 3.78 L pail, Premixed thinset adhesive:** 1.5 m² ÷ about 3.7 m² per 3.78 L with a 5 × 4 mm V-notch = 1.5 L (premixed adhesive, Custom SimpleSet’s figures).
- **1 × 4.5 kg bag, Unsanded grout:** Joint volume: (76 mm + 152 mm) × 2 mm wide × 6 mm deep per tile ≈ 198 cm³ per m² × 1.5 m² ≈ 0.6 kg with 15% extra. Unsanded below 3 mm.
- **1, Grout sealer:** Cement grout stains; seal it once it cures (see the grout bag).
- **1 bag, Tile spacers:** Holds the first row 3 mm off the counter and keeps the joints even (lugged subway tile spaces itself).
- **1 length, Metal tile edge trim:** 914 mm of open edge ÷ 2.5 m lengths, as sold. Match the tile’s thickness.

## The steps, in order

> **DIY OK: you can do this yourself with standard tools.** About 9–15 hours of work for this example.

1. Turn off the breakers for the outlets in the area and check each one with a tester; take off the cover plates. Tape cardboard or plastic over the counter and the range.
2. Clean and degloss the wall; find the counter’s low spot and mark a level line one tile up from it.
3. Dry-lay a row to center the pattern on the range or the sink, so the ends don’t get slivers.
4. Set tile: spread premixed adhesive with the 3/16″ × 5/32″ V-notch, set the first row on ⅛″ spacers above the counter along the level line, and work up.
5. Cut around the outlets so the cover plates overlap the tile; fit a box extender in each box.
6. Edges: set the metal edge trim in the adhesive under the last tile at each open end.
7. Grout: after the adhesive’s wait (24 h or more, longer for bigger tile), pack the joints at 45° with the float, sponge, then buff the haze off.
8. Caulk: run silicone along the joint at the counter and up the inside corners — not grout.
9. Put the outlets back on their extenders with the longer screws, cover plates on, power back on; seal the grout once it cures (see the bag).

## Tools (20)

Must-have tools first, then the ones that help and the ones to rent for the day.

| Tool | Need | Why |
|---|---|---|
| **Non-contact voltage tester** | **Must have** | Confirm the outlets are dead before you work around them |
| **Notched trowel** | **Must have** | 3/16″ × 5/32″ V-notch |
| **Margin trowel** | **Must have** | Narrow flat trowel for mixing and back-buttering. |
| **5-gal buckets (2)** | **Must have** | Rinse water for the sponge and tools |
| **Grout float** | **Must have** | Rubber float that packs grout into joints. |
| **Grout sponges + 2 buckets** | **Must have** | Cleans haze. One bucket to rinse, one of clean water. |
| **4-ft level** | **Must have** | The level line one tile up from the counter |
| **Cross-line laser level** | Good to have | Throws the level line along the whole run |
| **Tape measure (25 ft)** | **Must have** | The red boxes every 16″ on the blade are stud spacing. |
| **Carpenter's pencil** | **Must have** | Flat, doesn't roll away, marks rough lumber. |
| **Wet tile saw** | Good to have | Notches around outlets and the odd cut the snap cutter can’t make |
| **Tile snap cutter** | **Must have** | Fast straight cuts, no water |
| **Tile nippers** | Good to have | Nibbles the corners of the outlet notches |
| **Oscillating multi-tool** | Good to have | Cuts outlet notches in set tile |
| **Caulk gun** | **Must have** | Dispenses caulk and adhesive. |
| **Utility knife + blades** | **Must have** | Scores drywall and vinyl plank, trims pad. Swap blades often. |
| **Screwdriver set** | **Must have** | Cover plates and the devices onto their extenders |
| **Safety glasses** | **Must have** | Every cut, every nail, every time. |
| **Work gloves** | **Must have** | Thinset and grout are caustic |
| **Half-face respirator (P100)** | **Must have** | Silica dust from any dry cut |

## Mistakes and how the math works

### Mistakes that cost a callback or a second trip

- **Starting from the counter:** Counters aren’t level, so the rows drift. Start from a level line one tile up and fill the gap at the counter.
- **Grout at the countertop:** That joint moves and cracks. Leave it open and fill it with silicone.
- **Outlets left recessed:** A box buried behind the tile is unsafe and the device wobbles. Bring every box forward with an extender.
- **Premixed adhesive under big or glass tile:** It stays soft without air. Powdered thinset for tile over 8″, glass and stone.
- **Not mixing the boxes:** Tile varies from box to box. Pull from three boxes as you set.

### What the calculator assumes

- Area: the run × the band height, less 36″ of run per window, + the strip behind the range up to the hood (taken as 30″ above the counter, typical).
- Waste: 10% for stacked and running bond, 18% for herringbone, + 2 spare tiles (or 1 sheet).
- Premixed adhesive (Custom SimpleSet): about 40 sq ft per gallon with a 3/16″ × 5/32″ V-notch, 20 sq ft with a ¼″ × ¼″ square notch; for tile up to 8″.
- Grout: joint volume from the tile size, joint and thickness (1/4″), ≈ 0.065 lb per cu in, +15%.
- Silicone: about 55 ft per 10.1 oz tube at a 3/16″ bead (DAP 100% silicone), +15%.
- Edge trim in 8′ 2-1/2″ (2.5 m) lengths.

## Code, permits and safety

The Sheet sets its code notes for the job's state or province. These are New Jersey's and Ontario's; the [code reference](https://studsheet.com/codes) has more. Always confirm with your building department.

- **Power off, outlets brought forward:** Turn off the breakers for the outlets and lights in the area and check each one with a tester before you work around it. Tile and adhesive add about ⅜″, so each box comes forward with an extender: in a tile wall the box may sit back no more than ¼″ from the finished face (NEC 314.20). Moving an outlet or adding one is electrical work: the electrical page.

## Questions

### What materials do I need to tile a kitchen backsplash?

For the worked example, a 12′ of backsplash, 18″ tall, the Sheet counts 10 lines with waste included, starting with wall tile (143 tiles (18 sq ft)), premixed thinset adhesive (1 × 1 gal pail), unsanded grout (1 × 10 lb bag), grout sealer (1). Each line's math is in the table above. Put in your own sizes in the [backsplash calculator](https://app.studsheet.com/p/backsplash) and every line is counted again.

### How long does it take to tile a kitchen backsplash, and can I do it myself?

About 9 to 15 hours for the worked example, in 9 steps. StudSheet stamps it **DIY OK**: you can do this.

### What tools do I need to tile a kitchen backsplash?

20 in all. The must-haves start with non-contact voltage tester, notched trowel, margin trowel, 5-gal buckets (2), grout float, grout sponges + 2 buckets. On the Sheet you mark each one as owned, to buy or to rent.

## Ask about it

Stuck while you tile a kitchen backsplash? Ask in the [Backsplashes group](https://studsheet.com/forum/backsplash) of the StudSheet community with this Sheet attached. Homeowners who've done it and verified pros answer, and anyone can read it.

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