How do I measure a kitchen backsplash?

Multiply the length of the worktop run by the height from the worktop to the underside of the wall units, usually 45 to 60 centimetres. Measure each run separately if the kitchen turns a corner, then add them.

How many 10x20 metro tiles per square metre?

Fifty, since each tile covers 0.02 square metres. A 1.8 square metre backsplash therefore needs about 90 tiles before waste and around 104 with a 15 percent allowance.

Why allow 15 percent waste on a backsplash?

Because the area is small and the number of interruptions is high. Sockets, switches, the hob area and the ends of runs all need cuts, and a half brick bond adds a cut tile at the end of every second row.

Does the laying pattern change how many tiles I need?

Yes. A half brick bond adds a cut at the end of alternate rows, herringbone produces cuts along both edges, and stack bond is the most economical. Decide the pattern before you order.

Should I tile behind the cooker?

If the run continues behind it, yes, and many people use a taller or different tile there. Measure that section separately since it is usually a different height from the rest of the run.

Backsplash Tile Calculator

About Backsplash Tile Calculator

A kitchen backsplash is a small area with an unusually high proportion of cuts, which is why this page starts at a 15 percent waste allowance rather than 10. It is also preset to 10 by 20 centimetres, the standard metro or subway tile that dominates this application. A typical backsplash is the run of worktop multiplied by the height from the worktop to the underside of the wall units, commonly around 45 to 60 centimetres, which for a 3 metre run is only 1.35 to 1.8 square metres. At that size a single mistake in the count is a meaningful proportion of the job. The cuts are what drive the waste: sockets and switches sit in the middle of the field, the extractor or hob splashback interrupts the run, and window reveals and the ends of worktops all need shaped pieces. Laying metro tiles in a half brick bond, which is the usual pattern, adds a cut half tile at the end of every second row by design. Herringbone and stack bond change the count again, so decide the pattern before ordering. Buy in one batch, since a small area shows a shade difference clearly. For floors see Tile Calculator.

How to use Backsplash Tile Calculator

Enter the floor or wall area dimensions in metres
Enter tile length and width in centimetres
See tile count and optional box count in metric and imperial

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure a kitchen backsplash?: Multiply the length of the worktop run by the height from the worktop to the underside of the wall units, usually 45 to 60 centimetres. Measure each run separately if the kitchen turns a corner, then add them.
How many 10x20 metro tiles per square metre?: Fifty, since each tile covers 0.02 square metres. A 1.8 square metre backsplash therefore needs about 90 tiles before waste and around 104 with a 15 percent allowance.
Why allow 15 percent waste on a backsplash?: Because the area is small and the number of interruptions is high. Sockets, switches, the hob area and the ends of runs all need cuts, and a half brick bond adds a cut tile at the end of every second row.
Does the laying pattern change how many tiles I need?: Yes. A half brick bond adds a cut at the end of alternate rows, herringbone produces cuts along both edges, and stack bond is the most economical. Decide the pattern before you order.
Should I tile behind the cooker?: If the run continues behind it, yes, and many people use a taller or different tile there. Measure that section separately since it is usually a different height from the rest of the run.

Backsplash Tile Calculator

About Backsplash Tile Calculator

How to use Backsplash Tile Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

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