What this calculator works out
This calculator takes the splashback area and your tile size, adds a waste allowance, and returns the number of tiles, an estimated cost, and rough quantities for adhesive and grout.
Splashbacks are small areas with a high proportion of edges and cuts, which is why the waste allowance matters more here than on a large floor.
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Before you order
- Measure the length of the run and the height from worktop to the underside of the wall units — commonly 500 to 600 mm.
- Include the area behind the hob if it extends higher, and measure it separately.
- Tile dimensions are in centimetres here. A 100 by 200 mm metro tile is 10 by 20.
- Allow at least 10% waste, and 15% or more for small tiles, diagonal layouts or patterned arrangements.
A kitchen splashback typically contains several sockets, and each one needs tiles cut around it. Cuts on small tiles frequently break, particularly near an edge. On a run with four sockets, a 10% allowance can disappear entirely.
How this calculator works
Area divided by tile area, plus waste:
Splashback area = length × height
Tile area = (tile width ÷ 100) × (tile height ÷ 100)
Tiles = (area ÷ tile area) × (1 + waste ÷ 100), rounded up
Adhesive ≈ area ÷ 4 · Grout ≈ area ÷ 5The adhesive and grout figures are rough guides based on typical coverage. Actual coverage depends on the product, the notch size of your trowel and the joint width, all of which are on the packaging.
Worked example: a 3 m run
Using the default figures — a 3 m by 0.6 m splashback in 10 by 20 cm tiles at £0.80 each, with 10% waste:
- Area: 3 × 0.6 = 1.8 m²
- Tile area: 0.1 × 0.2 = 0.02 m², so 90 tiles bare minimum
- With waste: 99 tiles
- Estimated cost: £79.20
- Extras: about 1 bag of adhesive and 1 grout pack
Nine spare tiles across a run with several sockets is not generous. Buying a full box rather than a counted quantity is usually the better move — tiles are frequently sold in boxes covering around 1 m², and the price difference between 99 tiles and two boxes is small against the cost of running out with one corner left.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the exact calculated quantity. Breakages during cutting are normal, not exceptional.
- Forgetting the area behind the hob. It is usually taller than the rest of the run.
- Mixing batches. Tile shade varies between production batches; check they match.
- Using wall adhesive on a worktop-level surface without checking water resistance.
- Grouting before the adhesive has set. Follow the stated time, usually 12 to 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a splashback be?
Between the worktop and the underside of the wall units, which is commonly 500 to 600 mm. Behind a hob, it is usual to go higher — often to the extractor — because that area takes the most splashing and heat. Building regulations do not specify a height, but manufacturer instructions for the hob may specify clearances.
Do I need to seal the tiles?
Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles do not need sealing. Natural stone, unglazed terracotta and some cement tiles do, both before and after grouting, or the grout will stain the surface permanently. Check what you are buying — some very matt porcelains are mistaken for stone and vice versa.
What grout should I use in a kitchen?
A water-resistant cement-based grout is adequate for most splashbacks. Epoxy grout is more stain-resistant and much harder to work with, and is worth considering behind a hob or where a pale grout will be exposed to cooking splashes. Darker grout hides staining far better than white.
Should I tile behind appliances?
Behind a freestanding cooker or fridge, generally yes to a sensible height — appliances get moved, and an untiled patch is very visible when they do. Behind fitted units and integrated appliances there is no need, and it saves both tiles and cutting.
Is what I enter stored?
No. Measurements and prices are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained.
Related tools
References
- GOV.UK — building regulations guidance relevant to kitchens and ventilation
- Health and Safety Executive — safe cutting of tiles, including silica dust precautions
Sources are checked at publication and can change — how I choose and check references.