Ceiling Tile Sizes (Measuring & Dimensions Guide)

Here’s our guide to ceiling tile sizes including drop, acoustic, false ceiling tile dimensions and steps on how to measure these types of tiles.

Ceiling tiles complete and make a space look finished and pleasing. They come in a lot of sizes and any material you could think of. Some are simply decorative, while others serve an added function like soundproofing.

In this article, we will provide you with the standard dimensions that ceiling tiles usually come in. If you are looking to invest and upgrade the look of your room, keep reading.

Standard Ceiling Tile Dimensions

There are two main ceiling tile sizes that are commonly used by contractors and homeowners. It also the tiles available widely at home centers and other stores where constructions supplies are sold. 

The first standard ceiling tile has a dimension of 600 by 600 millimeters or 23.62 by 23.62 inches. In contrast, the second ceiling tile has a size of 1200 by 600 millimeters or 23.62 by 47.24 inches.

The actual size of these tiles is 595 by 595 and 1195 by 595, respectively. The 5 millimeters or 0.20 inches difference is a size allowance to allow the tile to be positioned in the grid properly. 

How Thick is Ceiling Tile?

A ceiling tile usually has a 5/8 or 0.625 inches or 15.88 millimeters. 

Drop Ceiling Tile Dimensions

A drop ceiling tile is a type of ceiling that will work best to conceal and hide the fire sprinklers. They are often made of expanded polystyrene or vinyl and are available in many sizes. This ceiling tile works best for buildings or any larger homes wanting their fire sprinklers, wiring and pipes concealed. 

There are two standard sizes of the drop ceiling in the United States, and in offices, the light fixtures are also usually the same size as the ceiling tiles.

The usual square drop ceiling tile has a dimension of 2 by 2 inches or 5.08 by 5.08 centimeters. On the other hand, the rectangular drop ceiling tiles have sizes of 2 by 4 or 5.08 by 10.16 centimeters. 

Drop ceiling tiles have a thickness of 0.625 inches or 1.59 millimeters. 

Acoustic Ceiling Tile Dimensions

If you are looking for a better acoustic treatment for your room, office, or even your music studio, then you should consider treating your ceiling with an acoustic ceiling tile as well.

They can be laid suspended or on a dropped ceiling grid and can be made from a variety of materials from foam, wood, fiberglass, and even polyester. Acoustic ceiling tiles will absorb echo and reverberation anywhere you install them. 

Acoustic ceiling tiles are great to be used in schools, offices, and other businesses. If you are looking to lower reverberation around a space or diffuse sound if you are a recording studio, then acoustic ceiling tiles plus soundproof floor & wall materials are what you want to invest in. 

There are two sizes of acoustic ceiling tile that are usually used in this type of situation—the acoustic ceiling tile with the size of 24 by 24 inches or 60.96 by 60.96 centimeters, or the bigger one with the size of 24 by 48 inches or 60.69 by 121.92 centimeters. 

How Thick Are Acoustic Ceiling Tiles?

Acoustic ceiling tiles, just like the standard dropped ceiling tile, have a thickness of 5/8 or 0.625 inches or 15.88 millimeters. 

False Ceiling Tile Dimensions

False ceiling is exactly what they sound like. They are decals or ceiling tiles that are added to your ceiling for aesthetic purposes.

False ceiling tile comes in various sizes, finishes and is made from different types of materials like wood, PVC, and more. These false ceiling tiles can please the eye and can add to the overall look of the place. 

But aside from the aesthetics, false ceilings can also have added benefits; for example, they could also maximize or minimize sounds just like acoustic ceiling tiles can do. They can also reflect and at the same time diffuse the light, whether natural or artificial lighting.

False ceilings can also be a safety measure since some false ceilings are moisture-resistant, and this feature can benefit your ceiling in the long haul. 

The most famous type of false ceiling tiles is the gypsum false ceiling panels. They are famous because not only are they thermal and sound resistant, but they are also fire resistant and made of lightweight material. They can add to the aesthetic appeal of any home or building by enhancing the design with the use of other laminate or paint finishes. 

Gypsum ceiling tile panels come in the usual size of 24 by 24 inches or 60.96 by 60.96 centimeters. They usually have a thickness ranging from 6.5 to 9.0 millimeters or .65 to .9 centimeters. 

How Do You Measure For Ceiling Tiles?

To be able to measure your ceiling for ceiling tiles, simply follow these steps. 

1. Know the measure of your ceiling stretch in square feet, then calculate the area for each room you want to add ceiling tiles. 

2. You measure the square footage of your space by simply multiplying the length of your ceiling by its width. 

3. If you are installing the standard 24 by 24 inches ceiling tile, multiply each side to determine the area. 

4. To know how many tiles you will be needing, divide the area of one ceiling tile by the general area of your ceiling. 

5. To determine the amount of bracket you will be needed, especially for a drop ceiling tile, calculate the ceiling’s perimeter by simply adding all four sides together. 

6. To know how many runners you will need for your ceiling grid, simply divide the width by 2. We divide by two because your tile is 2 feet wide. 

7. To know how many rows of cross tees you will need for your ceiling, divide the length of the ceiling by the feet of the ceiling tile you will be using. 

We hope that this compendium of ceiling tile dimensions will help you. For another related article see our ceiling design types here.