FREE TILE CALCULATOR
Shower & Wet WallsKitchen BacksplashBathroom Tile CalculatorWall Tile CalculatorFloor Tile CalculatorGrout & Mortar EstimatorProject Cost Estimator
Submerged & Epoxy SpecialistWaterline Borders, Mosaics & Full Gunite Basins

Swimming Pool Tile & Waterline Calculator

Estimate waterline mosaic strips or full pool basin floor and walls—paired with submerged-rated mortar, waterproofing, and 100% solids epoxy grout.

Step 1: Enter Dimensions

Room & Tile Specifications

Change any number below to see live updates to the visual cut map and shopping list.

Pool Tiling Scope
Swipe →
Units: Feet & Inches
ft
ft
in
Swipe sizes →Units: in
in
in
15% Recommended
15%
5% (Simple square)10% (Straight grid)12–15% (Running bond)18–22% (Diag / Herringbone)
6. Box Packaging & Tile Price
10 sq ft (~40 tiles)
~40 tiles/box
sq ft
Printed on box label (standard 10–16 sq ft)
Optional
$/sq ft
Estimates DIY materials cost range
Interactive Layout CanvasScale: Auto-fit

Visual Tile Grid & Cut Map

Full (48)
Cuts (24)
Pan or 2 fingers
Tap "Pan" or use 2 fingers to drag canvas
Horizontal Nudge (X-Offset)0.0 in
Vertical Nudge (Y-Offset)0.0 in
Job-Ready Bill of MaterialsUpdated Instantly

Complete Store Shopping List

Take this to Home Depot, Lowe's, Floor & Decor, or your local tile distributor.

Net Area45.0 sq ft90 ft perimeter × 6 in strip
Purchase Area51.7 sq ftIncl. 15% waste buffer
Tiles Needed207 tiles6" × 6" format
Boxes to Buy
6 boxes
10 sq ft / box · ~40 tiles (+33 spare)
Adds liquid waterproofing membrane (and shell patch for full basins)

1. Main Tile & Substrate

01
6" × 6" Porcelain Tiles (Straight Grid)
Covers net room + recommended cut & breakage waste buffer
6 Boxes (~207 tiles needed)
~10 sq ft / box · ~40 tiles
02
Pool Hydrostatic Waterproofing & Crack-Isolation (ANSI A118.10)
2 continuous elastomeric coats rated for constant underwater immersion
2 Gallons (~90 sq ft, 2 coats)
+ fiberglass mesh tape over seams & corners

2. Mortar, Grout & Spacers

03
Submerged-Rated Thin-Set Mortar (ANSI A118.15 / 50 lb bags)
Submerged-rated ANSI A118.15 white thinset · cure per manufacturer instructions before filling pool
2 Bags (50 lb)
100 lbs total
04
100% Solids Chemical-Resistant Epoxy Grout (ANSI A118.3)
Resists chlorine, salt systems, calcium scale & freeze-thaw shock
Formula: ((6 + 6) × 0.125" × 0.375" × 51.7 × 9.5) ÷ 36 = 7.7 lbs
1 Bucket (9 lb kit)
~7.7 lbs required
05
Plastic Cross Tile Spacers
Maintains uniform grout joint width on small & mosaic formats
1 Bag (250 spacers)
~250 cross spacers per pack

Essential Tools Checklist

Check if you have these at home
Estimated Project Budget
Materials: $462 – $624

Includes pool tile + submerged thinset, epoxy grout & waterproofing membrane.

Rough national estimates — local store & contractor prices vary.

Submerged installations involve continuous hydrostatic pressure and structural waterproofing — consult a qualified pool professional before purchasing materials.

Optional Contractor Labor$630 – $1,260Local market installer rate benchmarks
Calculated on FreeTileCalculator.com — Free, accurate homeowner estimatorDate:
Submerged Pool Tiling Guidelines

3 Key Principles for Submerged Pool Tiling

1. Use White ANSI A118.15 Mortar

Transparent glass mosaics show mortar color right through the tile body. Specify bright white ANSI A118.15 submerged thinset and avoid water-soluble mastics completely.

2. 100% Solids Chemical Epoxy Grout

Pool chlorine, pH shock treatments, and saltwater chlorinators erode ordinary Portland cement grout rapidly. Epoxy grout helps resist chemical erosion and algae staining when installed and maintained per manufacturer instructions.

3. Follow Manufacturer Cure Instructions

Allow submerged-rated thinset, waterproof membranes, and epoxy grouts to cure fully per the manufacturer's instructions before filling the pool or balancing water chemistry.

Consult a Pool Professional: Swimming pools involve continuous hydrostatic water pressure, freeze-thaw exposure, shell crack isolation, and specialized bonding chemistry. Consult a qualified pool contractor before starting full basin resurfacing or structural shell repairs.

Swimming Pool Tiling FAQs

How do I calculate swimming pool waterline tile?
Calculate the interior pool perimeter: 2 × (Pool Length + Pool Width). Multiply that perimeter by the waterline strip height in feet (most common is 6 inches = 0.5 ft). For a 15'×30' pool, perimeter is 90 ft × 0.5 ft = 45 sq ft net, plus 15% waste for corner miters and skimmer box cutouts = 52 sq ft (6 boxes of 10 sq ft).
How do I estimate tiles for a full swimming pool basin (floor and walls)?
Switch our Pool Tiling Scope above to Full Pool Basin (Floor + 4 Walls). It computes pool floor area (Width × Length) plus all four walls (2 × (Width + Length) × Average Depth). For example, a 15'×30' pool at 5 ft average depth equals 450 sq ft floor + 450 sq ft walls = 900 sq ft net.
Can I use standard bathroom thinset mortar and sanded grout in a pool?
No! Standard bathroom thinset swells, weakens, and delaminates under continuous hydrostatic pressure and chlorinated water. Always use ANSI A118.15 submerged-rated polymer thinset over a pool-grade waterproof membrane, follow the mortar and grout manufacturer's cure instructions before filling, and grout with 100% solids ANSI A118.3 chemical-resistant epoxy grout.
What tile materials are frost-proof and safe for submerged swimming pools?
Choose vitreous glass mosaics or low-absorption porcelain rated <0.5% water absorption (frost-proof). Avoid installing porous travertine, standard ceramic wall tile (>3% absorption), or paper-backed mesh mosaics underwater unless rated for submerged pool installation.