How to Measure a Wall for Tile (Bathroom, Backsplash, Feature Wall)
Wall area, minus fixtures, plus the right waste factor for tile size and pattern. Your iPhone gives you a number you can take straight to the tile shop.
Wall tile is harder to measure than floor tile because of the fixtures (mirrors, sinks, electrical outlets, windows) that interrupt the wall surface. Skipping the subtractions wastes money; double-counting them leaves you short. Here's the systematic approach.
왜 측정하나
- Get exact tile quantity for the specific area
- Subtract fixtures correctly (sinks, mirrors, windows)
- Plan the layout for the smallest visible cut tiles
- Estimate trim, edge pieces, and grout
준비물
- iPhone with Ruler AR
- Length mode for individual walls
- Material Calculator → Wall Tile
단계별 안내
- Measure each wall separately. For each wall to be tiled, capture width × height. Walls of a bathroom rarely have the same dimensions. Save each as a separate measurement in one project.
- Subtract windows, mirrors, sinks. For each fixture: width × height = area to subtract. In a bathroom: window (typical 60×60 cm), sink (typical 60×40 cm projection), mirror, towel rail, electrical outlets.
- Sum tileable area. Total tileable area = sum of (wall width × wall height) − sum of fixture areas. The Material Calculator does this automatically when you add fixtures to the room project.
- Add waste factor. Wall tile waste: 10% for large-format (60×60+), 15% for standard (30×30), 20% for mosaic or accent pieces. Add extra 5% for full-bathroom installs (more cuts around fixtures).
- Plan layout / cuts. For best appearance, no cut tile should be less than half a full tile. The app's 2D layout tool shows you where cuts land, adjust the starting position to optimize.
팁
- Order 1 extra box for repairs from the same dye lot
- Edge tiles (bullnose, trim, pencil) are sold separately, measure linear meters of exposed edges
- Mosaic sheets cover ~30×30 cm each, calculate based on sheet count, not individual tiles
흔한 실수
- Measuring just the wall area without subtracting fixtures
- Forgetting trim/edge tile, exposed edges (around mirrors, at countertop level) need bullnose pieces
- Buying too little, mosaic and patterned tile is the highest-waste category
자주 묻는 질문
Should I tile behind the toilet?
Yes, all the way down to the floor. The toilet sometimes gets replaced; you want continuous tile underneath. Measure floor-to-ceiling for full coverage.
Do I need to subtract small areas like electrical outlets?
For a single outlet (~5×8 cm = 0.004 m²): not worth subtracting. For larger fixtures (sink at 60×40 cm = 0.24 m²): yes, subtract.
How much grout do I need?
Grout coverage depends on tile size and joint width. 1 kg covers ~5 m² of standard tile with 3 mm joints. The tile retailer will sell you the right grout amount based on your tile choice.