How much tile do I need for a 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor?
A 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor is 40 square feet, so buy 44 square feet of tile to allow 10 percent for cuts. In 12 × 24 in tile that is 22 tiles, about 3 boxes; in 12 × 12 it is 44 tiles. Setting it takes 2 bags of thinset and about 6 lb of grout.
Tile for a 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor by tile size
| Tile | Tiles to buy (10% waste) | Boxes (15.5 sq ft) | Thinset, 50 lb bags | Grout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 in | 44 | 3 | 1 | 8 lb |
| 12 × 24 in | 22 | 3 | 2 | 6 lb |
| 24 × 24 in | 11 | 3 | 2 | 4 lb |
| 6 × 24 in plank | 43 | 3 | 2 | 10 lb |
| 3 × 6 in subway | 332 | 3 | 1 | 23 lb |
A 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor is 40 square feet; with 10 percent waste you need 44 square feet of tile. Grout assumes 1/8 in joints; thinset coverage depends on the trowel size the tile needs.
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Thinset, grout, and supplies for 40 square feet
- Thinset: 2 bags of 50 lb modified thinset for 12 × 24 tile with a 1/4 × 3/8 in notch trowel. Large-format tile over 15 in needs a 1/2 in notch and back-buttering, which is why the 24 × 24 count is higher.
- Grout: about 6 lb for 1/8 in joints with 12 × 24 tile; a 10 lb box is enough. Use unsanded grout for joints under 1/8 in.
- Backer board: cement board over a wood subfloor, 3 sheets of 3 × 5 ft, plus 3 rolls of alkali-resistant mesh tape.
- Spacers: one bag of 1/8 in spacers covers this job. Sealer: 1 pint for the grout lines.
- Tools: a wet saw rental ($50 to $75 a day) for porcelain; a snap cutter handles ceramic.
What tiling a 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor costs
Tile runs $1 to $5 per square foot for ceramic and porcelain at home centers and $8 to $20 for stone and designer tile, so 44 square feet is about $44 to $220 for standard tile. Thinset, grout, backer board, and spacers add $40 to $80. Professional installation typically runs $320 to $600 for 40 square feet, more for small tile, patterns, or a shower. Figure a weekend for a DIY job this size: one day to set, one to grout.
Common questions
How many 12x12 tiles for a 5 × 8 ft bathroom floor?
44 tiles with 10 percent waste, since each 12 × 12 tile covers just under a square foot with its grout joint. In 12 × 24 tile it is 22, and in 3 × 6 subway tile 332.
How many boxes of tile for 40 square feet?
3 boxes at 15.5 square feet per box to get 44 square feet with waste. Box coverage varies from 10 to 16 square feet, so check the label and round up.
How much thinset and grout for 40 square feet of tile?
2 bags of 50 lb thinset for 12 × 24 tile, or 2 for 24 × 24, and 6 lb of grout with 1/8 in joints. Subway tile needs about 23 lb of grout because of all the extra joints.