Tools & Calculators
No popups. No ads. Just tools that help your tile project succeed.
Floor Deflection Calculator
Estimate joist deflection (L/xxx) to screen floor stiffness for tile and stone.
Deck Mud Calculator
Estimate how much sand/topping mix & sand or cement & sand you’ll need for a shower mud bed.
Waterproofing Selector
Answer a few questions and get a recommended waterproofing approach (and why).
Shower Tile Square Footage Calculator
Input your shower size and get the tile square footage you need
Thinset/Trowel Size Calculator
Estimate how much thinset you'll need to purchase and what size trowel(s) to use.
Tile Layout Planner
Input your measurements and see a visual of your completed installation
Want the long-form explanations and install guides? That lives on FloorElf.com.
Tile & Shower Tools (No BS. No ads. Just answers.)
These calculators and selectors are simple, practical tools I built to solve the same real-world questions that show up in my comment sections every day. They’re designed for DIYers planning a project before the “oh crap” stage — but they’re just as useful mid-build when you need a clear number or a sane next step.
Each tool runs entirely in your browser: you enter your info, it does the math, and you get results immediately. No email gates, no popups, and no “unicorn system” sales pitch.
What you’ll find here
- Floor Deflection Calculator: Estimates how bouncy your floor structure is (deflection ratio) based on joist size, spacing, span, and wood species. This helps you decide whether your floor framing is suitable for tile or stone before you start installing anything.
- Deck Mud Calculator: Figures out how much deck mud you need for a shower floor, based on your shower dimensions, drain height, and distance from drain to the furthest corner. It also calculates a level perimeter height so your slope hits the proper minimum.
- Shower Waterproofing Method Selector: A quick decision helper that recommends a waterproofing approach based on your project type, budget, time, comfort level, and red-flag risk factors. It shows alternatives and calls out what isn’t suitable for your specific inputs.
- Tile Square Footage Calculator: Tells you how much tile you need to purchase for your shower installation. If your shower is just three walls (around a tub, or in a tub space) choose the '3-wall surround'. If you have a custom shower choose 'total wall length' and measure the length of all the walls combined. For instance, the walls around the tub would be a total of 10 feet (5' back wall, two side walls at 2'6" each). Measurements are in feet and inches. If it's 5 feet, input 5 feet, 0 inches.
- Thinset/Trowel Size Calculator: This tool estimates how much thinset you'll need to purchase and what size trowel(s) to use. Simply input your tile size/type, where you're installing it and what your substrates are (underlying substrate as well as what is directly behind your tile). It will give you the proper trowel size(s) and amount of thinset needed.
- Tile Layout Planner: This tool gives you a visual of what your finished tile installation layout will look like. Simply input the sizes of your tile and shower walls (or wherever you're installing it) and it will render a visual mockup of your finished design.
Important (because water always wins)
These tools are planning helpers — not a substitute for proper installation instructions, manufacturer specs, or common sense. If your project has known water damage, unknown substrate conditions, or you’re attempting anything specialized (like steam showers), follow the “leave a comment” link in the selector so we can confirm your plan before you build a portable water hazard in your bathroom.
Want the full breakdown of waterproofing systems (traditional, liquid, sheet, hybrids) without bias? Grab the free manual here: Waterproof Shower Manual.