Putting in a new kitchen backsplash can make your kitchen look totally new. But before you pick out that beautiful tile, you need to know exactly how much material you need. This means measuring the space correctly. This guide will show you step-by-step how to measure for a kitchen backsplash so you can buy the right amount of material and avoid common mistakes. You will learn how to find the kitchen backsplash area, measure walls, deal with tricky spots like outlets and windows, and figure out how much backsplash material needed, including extra for cuts and waste.
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Get Ready to Measure
Before you start pulling out the tape measure, gather everything you need. Having the right backsplash measurement tools makes the job much easier and helps you get correct numbers.
What You Need
- Metal Tape Measure: A good quality metal tape measure is key. It needs to be long enough to measure across your longest walls in one go if possible. Look for one that locks easily and has clear markings.
- Paper and Pencil: You need to write down your measurements as you take them. Don’t try to remember them! Use a pencil so you can erase if you make a mistake.
- Calculator: You will use this to figure out the total area and how much material to buy.
- Optional: Laser Measurer: This can be very helpful for long, straight walls. It shoots a laser to find the distance, making it fast and often more accurate than a tape measure for large areas. However, a tape measure is still needed for smaller details and around obstacles.
- Step Stool or Ladder: You might need to reach areas above your counters or around windows. Make sure it is stable and safe.
- A Friend: Having someone to hold the end of the tape measure, especially for longer distances, makes measuring much simpler and more accurate.
See Your Backsplash Area
First, look at the space where your new backsplash will go. Most backsplashes run along the wall behind the counter, usually from the counter up to the bottom of the upper cabinets.
Think about the shape of this area. It’s often a long rectangle or a series of rectangles broken up by windows, doors, or appliances like the stove or refrigerator.
You need to measure each separate section of wall where the backsplash will be. Don’t measure over windows, doors, or large appliances that won’t be covered. You are measuring the actual wall space that will get the backsplash material.
Measure Each Wall Section
Now it’s time to measure the walls. This is the most important part of measuring for tile backsplash or any other backsplash material. You need to find the length (or width) and the height of each section of wall.
Step 1: Measure the Length
Go to the first section of wall that will have a backsplash. This might be between your counter and the upper cabinets.
Measure the horizontal distance along the counter edge where the backsplash will start and end.
Hold your tape measure flat against the wall. Start at one end of the section and stretch it to the other end.
Write this number down on your paper. Label it clearly, for example, “Wall Section 1 Length.”
Measure this length in inches. It’s usually easiest to measure everything in inches first and then change it to feet later. For example, if the wall section is 5 feet long, write down 60 inches.
Step 2: Measure the Height
Next, measure the vertical distance from the counter top up to where the backsplash will stop.
For most kitchens, this is from the counter up to the bottom edge of the upper cabinets.
Hold your tape measure straight up and down. Measure from the counter surface to the bottom of the cabinet.
If you don’t have upper cabinets in some spots (like behind a stove with a hood fan), decide how high you want the backsplash to go. It might go up to the hood, the ceiling, or just a certain height (like 18 or 24 inches). Measure to that point.
Write this height number down next to the length for that section. Label it “Wall Section 1 Height.” Measure this in inches too.
Step 3: Measure All Sections
Move to the next section of wall that needs a backsplash.
Repeat Step 1 (measure the length along the counter).
Repeat Step 2 (measure the height from the counter up).
Write these numbers down for “Wall Section 2,” and so on, for every piece of wall space getting a backsplash.
Make sure you measure each section separately, even if they look the same size. Small differences matter!
Grasping Backsplash Installation Measurements
Why are these measurements so important for backsplash installation measurements? Because installers need to know the exact size of the area they are working on. The lengths and heights tell them how many rows and columns of tile or how much sheet material they will need to cut and place. Taking careful measurements now helps the installation go smoothly later.
Deciphering Backsplash Outlets
Kitchens have outlets, switches, and maybe even intercoms or phone jacks on the walls. These need to be measured too, as the backsplash material will need to be cut around them. You don’t typically subtract the area of the outlet itself from your total wall area, but you do need to know where they are and their size for planning cuts. This is key when measuring backsplash outlets.
How to Measure Around Outlets
- Measure the position: For each outlet or switch, measure how far it is from the edge of that wall section. Measure from the left edge of the wall section to the left edge of the outlet box. Write this down.
- Measure the position from the counter: Measure how far up the outlet box is from the counter top. Measure from the counter surface to the bottom edge of the outlet box. Write this down.
- Measure the size: Measure the width and height of the outlet box itself (or the cover plate, though the box size is more useful for cutting). Write these down.
- Note the type: Write down if it’s a single outlet, double outlet, light switch, etc.
- Do this for every obstacle: Repeat this for all outlets, switches, or other things on the wall that the backsplash will need to go around.
Why measure outlets this way? The tile installer needs to know exactly where each hole needs to be cut in the backsplash material. Your measurements help them mark the material correctly before cutting.
Measuring for Backsplash Around Windows
Windows are common in kitchens, and the backsplash often wraps around them. You need to measure the wall space under, over, and to the sides of the window if those areas will get backsplash. This is a specific part of measuring for backsplash around windows.
How to Measure Around Windows
- Measure the wall under the window: Measure the length of the wall section from the counter up to the bottom sill of the window. Measure its height from the counter to the sill. Treat this as a standard wall section if it’s a simple rectangle.
- Measure the wall over the window: If there is space between the top of the window frame and the upper cabinets (or ceiling), measure the length of this section (same as the window’s width) and its height.
- Measure the wall to the sides of the window: If there is wall space between the side of the window frame and the cabinets or the end of the wall, measure the width of this section and its height (from the counter up to the bottom of the cabinet or desired backsplash height). Do this for both sides if applicable.
- Measure the window opening: Measure the width and height of the window opening itself. You will subtract this area later.
Write down all these measurements clearly, noting which window they belong to (if you have more than one) and whether the measurement is for under, over, or beside the window.
Calculate Your Backsplash Area
Once you have measured all your wall sections, outlets, and window areas, it’s time to figure out the total kitchen backsplash area you need to cover. This is usually given in square feet. Finding the backsplash square footage is simple once you have your measurements in inches.
Step 1: Change Inches to Feet
You measured everything in inches. To get square feet, you first need to change your inch measurements into feet.
Remember there are 12 inches in 1 foot.
To change inches to feet, divide the number of inches by 12.
* Example: 60 inches / 12 = 5 feet
* Example: 18 inches / 12 = 1.5 feet
* Example: 30 inches / 12 = 2.5 feet
Do this for the length and height of every wall section you measured.
Step 2: Calculate Area for Each Section
The area of a rectangle is Length multiplied by Height.
For each wall section, multiply its length in feet by its height in feet.
* Area = Length (in feet) x Height (in feet)
- Example: Wall Section 1 is 5 feet long and 1.5 feet high.
Area = 5 feet * 1.5 feet = 7.5 square feet.
Calculate the area for every wall section you measured under the first steps.
Step 3: Calculate Area for Areas Around Windows
You need to find the area of the wall sections around the window (under, over, sides). Use the lengths and heights in feet that you calculated in Step 1.
* Example: Wall section under window is 3 feet long and 1.5 feet high.
Area = 3 feet * 1.5 feet = 4.5 square feet.
* Example: Wall section over window is 3 feet long and 0.5 feet high.
Area = 3 feet * 0.5 feet = 1.5 square feet.
* Example: Wall section to the side of window is 1 foot long and 1.5 feet high.
Area = 1 foot * 1.5 feet = 1.5 square feet. (Do this for both sides if needed).
Step 4: Calculate Area of Window Openings
Measure the width and height of the window opening in inches, then change them to feet (divide by 12).
Multiply the width in feet by the height in feet to get the area of the window opening in square feet.
* Example: Window opening is 36 inches wide and 30 inches high.
Width in feet = 36 / 12 = 3 feet
Height in feet = 30 / 12 = 2.5 feet
Window Area = 3 feet * 2.5 feet = 7.5 square feet.
Step 5: Add Up All Wall Section Areas
Add up the square footage for all the wall sections you measured. This includes the areas under, over, and beside windows that will get backsplash.
* Total Wall Area = Area Section 1 + Area Section 2 + Area Section 3 + … + Area under Window + Area over Window + Area beside Window (left) + Area beside Window (right)
Step 6: Subtract Window and Other Opening Areas
You calculated the area of the window opening. You will not put backsplash in the window. So, subtract the area of the window opening from your Total Wall Area.
* Backsplash Area (before waste) = Total Wall Area – Window Area
What about outlets and switches? You generally do not subtract the small area of outlets and switches. This is because the material still needs to cover that space and will be cut around the opening. The small amount of material cut out is part of the waste.
If you have other large openings where no backsplash will go (like a very tall appliance garage opening, but not the appliance itself), measure their area and subtract them using the same method as for windows.
The number you have now is the basic backsplash square footage you need to cover. This is the total kitchen backsplash area.
Calculating How Much Backsplash Material Needed
Now that you know the total area in square feet, you can figure out how much material to buy. However, you can’t just buy exactly that amount. You need to add extra for cuts, mistakes, and matching patterns. This extra material is called waste. Calculating how much backsplash material needed means figuring out the area plus waste.
Backsplash Waste Calculation
Waste is material that gets cut off, broken, or is unusable for various reasons. It’s totally normal to have waste when installing tile or other sheet materials. You must buy more material than your measured area. This is the backsplash waste calculation part.
Why Do You Need Waste?
- Cutting: Tiles or sheets need to be cut to fit the edges of the wall, around outlets, windows, and in corners. These cut pieces often create waste.
- Mistakes: Sometimes cuts go wrong, or a tile breaks. It’s good to have extras.
- Patterns: If you are using a diagonal pattern, herringbone pattern, or a pattern with multiple tile sizes, you will need more waste than a simple straight pattern. Diagonal cuts create more unusable pieces.
- Irregular Walls: Walls are rarely perfectly straight or square. This can require more careful cuts and lead to more waste.
How Much Waste to Add?
The amount of waste you need to add depends on a few things:
- Material Type: Larger format tiles usually have less waste than small mosaic tiles. Sheet materials might have different waste factors than tiles.
- Pattern: Straight patterns need less waste. Diagonal or complex patterns need more.
- Your Skill Level: If you are doing it yourself and are new to tiling, you might want a bit more extra.
- Shape of Area: Lots of cuts (many outlets, windows, corners) mean more waste.
A general rule is to add 10% to 20% extra to your total backsplash area.
- 10% Waste: Good for simple, straight tile patterns in a basic rectangular area with few cuts.
- 15% Waste: Good for slightly more complex layouts or if you have several cuts for outlets or windows.
- 20% Waste or More: Use for diagonal patterns, herringbone patterns, areas with many cuts, or if you are new to installing. Some very complex patterns or materials might even need 25% or 30% waste.
Talk to the store where you buy your material or check the manufacturer’s recommendation if they provide one.
Calculating Total Material Needed (Area + Waste)
Here’s how to do the backsplash waste calculation:
- Take your total measured backsplash area in square feet (the number after subtracting windows).
- Decide on your waste percentage (e.g., 10%, 15%, 20%).
- Turn the percentage into a decimal by dividing by 100 (10% = 0.10, 15% = 0.15, 20% = 0.20).
- Multiply your total area by the waste percentage (as a decimal) to find the amount of waste area.
- Waste Area = Total Area * Waste Percentage (decimal)
- Add the Waste Area to your Total Area to find the total amount of material you need to buy.
- Total Material Needed = Total Area + Waste Area
Alternatively, you can multiply your total area by (1 + Waste Percentage as a decimal).
* Total Material Needed = Total Area * (1 + Waste Percentage as a decimal)
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Example: Your total backsplash area is 30 square feet. You decide to add 15% waste.
- Waste Area = 30 sq ft * 0.15 = 4.5 sq ft
- Total Material Needed = 30 sq ft + 4.5 sq ft = 34.5 sq ft
Using the alternative method:
* Total Material Needed = 30 sq ft * (1 + 0.15) = 30 sq ft * 1.15 = 34.5 sq ft
You would need to buy 34.5 square feet of material.
Buying the Material
Backsplash materials like tile are often sold by the square foot, but they might come in boxes. Each box contains a certain number of square feet.
When you go to buy your material, take your “Total Material Needed” number with you.
The store will help you figure out how many boxes to buy based on the square footage in each box.
You will usually have to round up to the nearest full box. For example, if you need 34.5 sq ft and boxes have 10 sq ft each, you’ll need 3.45 boxes. Since you can’t buy parts of boxes, you would need to buy 4 boxes (giving you 40 sq ft). It’s always better to have a little too much than not enough. Running out mid-project is frustrating, and dye lots (color batches) of tile can vary, so buying later might mean slightly different colored tiles.
Calculating Backsplash Tile Quantity
If you are using tile, you might want to know how many individual tiles you need. This step is about calculating backsplash tile quantity.
- Find the size of one tile (e.g., 4 inches by 4 inches, 3 inches by 6 inches).
- Calculate the area of one tile in square inches (Length * Width).
- Example: 4 inches * 4 inches = 16 square inches per tile.
- Calculate the area of one tile in square feet. There are 144 square inches in 1 square foot (12 inches * 12 inches = 144). Divide the tile area in square inches by 144.
- Example: 16 square inches / 144 = 0.111… square feet per tile.
- Take your “Total Material Needed” in square feet (including waste).
- Divide the Total Material Needed area by the area of one tile in square feet.
- Total Number of Tiles = Total Material Needed (sq ft) / Area of One Tile (sq ft)
- Example: You need 34.5 sq ft of material. Each tile is 4×4 inches (0.111 sq ft).
- Total Number of Tiles = 34.5 sq ft / 0.111 sq ft/tile ≈ 311 tiles.
This number helps you understand how many pieces you’ll be working with, but stores usually sell by the box based on total square footage. This calculation is more for your own planning or if buying individual tiles is an option.
Double-Check Everything
Before you buy any material, go back and double-check all your measurements. Remeasure each section. Compare your numbers. A small mistake in measuring can mean you buy too much or, worse, not enough material.
Also, make sure your written notes are clear. You need to know which measurement goes with which wall section or window. Drawing a simple sketch of your kitchen layout and writing the measurements on it can be very helpful.
Tips for Accurate Measuring
- Measure Twice (or Three Times!): This is an old rule because it’s true. Measuring a section again helps catch errors.
- Keep the Tape Measure Straight and Flat: Don’t let it droop, especially when measuring height. Make sure it’s flat against the wall when measuring length.
- Get Help for Long Measures: A second person makes it much easier to get accurate lengths on long walls.
- Account for Obstructions: Remember you measured for outlets and windows. These aren’t subtracted from the main area calculation (except for the window/large opening area itself), but knowing where they are helps plan cuts.
- Consider Cabinet Overhang: If your upper cabinets hang out further than the wall below, measure from the counter straight up to the cabinet front, not the wall surface behind it. This is where the backsplash will typically end.
- Write Clearly: Use large, clear numbers on your paper. Label everything so you know what each measurement is for.
Taking the time to measure carefully will save you time, money, and frustration during the installation process. Your backsplash installation measurements depend on these first steps.
Summary of Steps
Here is a quick rundown of the process:
- Gather your backsplash measurement tools (tape measure, paper, pencil, calculator).
- Look at the kitchen backsplash area and divide it into simple sections.
- For each section of wall where backsplash will go, measure the length and the height in inches. Write these down.
- Note the location and size of backsplash outlets and switches on your sketch.
- Measure the wall areas under, over, and beside windows, plus the window opening size. This is measuring for backsplash around windows.
- Change all your inch measurements to feet by dividing by 12.
- Calculate the area of each wall section (Length in feet * Height in feet).
- Add up the areas of all wall sections, including those around windows.
- Calculate the area of window openings and any other large openings. Subtract these from the total wall section area to get the total backsplash square footage you need to cover.
- Perform backsplash waste calculation: Decide on a waste percentage (10-20% is typical, more for complex patterns/cuts).
- Calculate the waste area by multiplying your total backsplash area by the waste percentage (as a decimal).
- Add the waste area to the total area to find out how much backsplash material needed.
- Double-check all your measurements and calculations before buying materials.
Following these steps carefully helps ensure you buy the right amount of material for your project. Getting accurate measurements is the first and most important step towards a beautiful, mistake-free kitchen backsplash.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
h4 How accurate do my measurements need to be?
Very accurate! Even being off by an inch or two over a large area can mean you don’t have enough material or have a lot left over. Measure to the nearest 1/8th or 1/16th of an inch if possible, but convert to feet and decimals for area calculations.
h4 Should I measure before or after removing the old backsplash?
Measure after removing the old backsplash. The old material can sometimes make the measurement space slightly different. Measuring the clean, bare wall is best.
h4 My counter isn’t level. Where do I measure height from?
Measure the height from the counter to the cabinet (or desired top point) in a few different spots along the wall section. Use the shortest height measurement for your main calculation for that section. This ensures your tiles won’t go higher than the lowest point, and you can cut tiles for the gap if needed, or level it out during installation.
h4 My cabinets aren’t level. Where do I measure height to?
Similar to an uneven counter, measure the height to the bottom of the cabinets in a few spots. Use the shortest height.
h4 Do I subtract the stove area from the backsplash area?
Usually, no, unless the stove is free-standing and the backsplash does not go behind it. If your backsplash goes behind a slide-in stove or cooktop, you measure the full wall area, including the part behind the appliance. You might need to account for extra cuts around the stove’s edges or controls, which is covered by your waste percentage.
h4 What if I’m using sheet goods like laminate or metal instead of tile?
The measuring principles are the same. You still calculate the total backsplash square footage needed. Waste calculations might be slightly different depending on the sheet size and how cuts line up, but adding a percentage for cuts is still needed.
h4 What if my walls are very uneven or bumpy?
Accurate measuring is harder on uneven walls. Do your best to measure the average distance, but be aware that the installation might be more challenging, and you might need a slightly higher waste percentage to account for extra cutting and fitting.
h4 I’m using a very expensive tile. Can I use less waste?
You can try to be very careful with cuts to minimize waste, but it’s still risky. Running out of a specific, expensive tile can be a big problem due to cost and availability (especially matching color lots). It’s often cheaper in the long run to buy the recommended waste percentage than to need one or two tiles and have to buy a whole new box, or worse, find the tile is no longer available or doesn’t match.
h4 What if I only need a small amount of backsplash, like just behind the sink?
Measure that specific section carefully. Calculate its area and add waste just like for a larger project. Even for small areas, you need extra for cuts and potential errors.
Measuring accurately is the groundwork for a successful backsplash project. Take your time, be precise, and double-check your numbers. Good luck!