50 sq ft of 3×6 tile needs 1 bag of Store-brand thinset with a 1/4 × 1/4 square-notch.
| Trowel | Sq ft / bag | Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 3/16 × 5/32 V-notch | 110 | 1 |
| 1/4 × 1/4 square-notch | 75 | 1 |
| 1/4 × 3/8 square-notch | 55 | 1 |
| 1/2 × 1/2 square-notch | 35 | 2 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 45° | 25 | 3 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 30° | 25 | 3 |
| Mortar | Sq ft each | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-brand thinset (50 lb) | 75 | 1 | $13.99 |
| VersaBond (50 lb) | 85 | 1 | $19.99 |
| VersaBond LHT (50 lb) | 90 | 1 | — |
| VersaBond LITE (35 lb) | 90 | 1 | — |
| ProLite (30 lb) | 90 | 1 | $36.99 |
| MegaLite (30 lb) | 90 | 1 | — |
| SimpleSet pre-mix (1 gal) | 20 | 3 | — |
| Ultraflex 2 (50 lb) | 75 | 1 | $29.65 |
| Ultraflex LFT (50 lb) | 85 | 1 | $29.99 |
| Ultraflex LHT SG (50 lb) | 75 | 1 | $24.99 |
| Keraflex Super (44 lb) | 100 | 1 | $36.99 |
| 253 Gold (50 lb) | 80 | 1 | $24.56 |
| 254 Platinum (50 lb) | 80 | 1 | $51.43 |
| MultiMax Lite (25 lb) | 85 | 1 | $48.99 |
| TEC 3N1 (30 lb) | 80 | 1 | — |
* not published for this trowel — estimated. Lightweight 25–35 lb bags cover what a 50-lb bag does.
Floor & Decor and Do it Best prices checked October 2026.
| Trowel | Store brand | VersaBond | Ultraflex LFT | ProLite (30 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16 × 5/32 V-notch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1/4 × 1/4 square-notch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1/4 × 3/8 square-notch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1/2 × 1/2 square-notch | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 45° | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 30° | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Subway tile on a backsplash only needs a 1/4 × 1/4 in square notch (or a 3/16 in V-notch for thin wall tile). One bag usually covers the whole job — buy a small bag or a pre-mixed pail if you prefer not to mix.
Back-buttering is not included here. Coverage charts leave it out, so large-format jobs that skip it on paper run short in practice.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main thinset calculator page.