Tile Calculator

Calculate tiles needed for floors, walls, and backsplashes with precise waste estimates. Works for any tile size.

Room measurements

Measure areas you want to tile

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Common sizes: 12×12, 18×18, 12×24, 6×36 inches

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10% straight, 15% diagonal, 20% pattern

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Complete Guide to Calculating Tile Quantities for Flawless Installation

Accurate tile calculations prevent costly mistakes, project delays, and the frustration of mismatched tiles from different production batches. Whether you're tiling a bathroom floor, kitchen backsplash, or entire home, knowing exactly how many tiles to order ensures you have enough material to complete the job while minimizing waste. Running short mid-project means ordering additional tiles that may not perfectly match your original batch, while over-ordering ties up money in materials you'll never use.

The foundation of tile calculation involves measuring your space and understanding tile dimensions. Start by measuring room length and width in feet, multiply dimensions to get total square footage, then calculate individual tile area by converting tile dimensions from inches to feet. A 12×12 inch tile equals 1 square foot, while a 6×6 inch tile equals 0.25 square feet. Divide room square footage by tile square footage to determine base tile quantity, then add waste percentage to account for cuts, breakage, and future repairs.

Understanding Tile Sizes and Coverage Calculations

Tiles come in countless sizes, each affecting installation complexity and material calculations. Small format tiles like 4×4 or 6×6 inches create busy patterns with many grout lines, ideal for small bathrooms or decorative accents. Standard 12×12 inch tiles offer versatility for most applications and simplify calculations with one tile per square foot. Large format tiles from 18×18 to 24×24 inches and beyond make spaces feel larger with fewer grout lines but require perfectly flat surfaces for proper installation.

Rectangular tiles like 12×24 or 6×36 inch planks (popular for wood-look ceramic) create visual interest and can make rooms appear larger when oriented properly. To calculate coverage, convert both dimensions to feet and multiply. A 12×24 inch tile converts to 1 foot × 2 feet = 2 square feet per tile. For a 100 square foot room, divide 100 by 2 to get 50 tiles needed before waste. Always verify tile dimensions carefully as manufacturers sometimes label nominal sizes that differ from actual dimensions.

Waste Factors: Why They're Essential for Tile Projects

Professional tile installers always add waste percentage because perfect installations without cuts or breakage don't exist in real world projects. Standard waste allowances include 10% for simple rectangular rooms with straight grid layouts, 15% for rooms with angles, diagonal patterns, or offset brick layouts, and 20% for complex patterns like herringbone, chevron, or intricate mosaics. Waste accounts for cutting tiles at walls and edges, breakage during cutting and installation, damaged or defective tiles in boxes, and future inventory for repairs and replacements.

Diagonal tile installations dramatically increase waste as every edge tile requires angled cuts creating more unusable scraps. Patterned installations like herringbone require numerous precise cuts with specific angles, generating significant waste from small leftover pieces. Natural stone tiles often have more breakage due to brittleness compared to porcelain or ceramic. A real example: a 150 square foot bathroom with 12×12 tiles needs 150 tiles base. With 15% waste for diagonal layout, order 173 tiles (round up to 18 boxes at 10 tiles per box). This ensures enough tiles to complete the project plus extras for future needs.

Additional Materials for Complete Tile Installation

Successful tile installations require more than just tiles. Thin-set mortar or mastic adhesive bonds tiles to substrate, with one 50-pound bag covering approximately 95 square feet using a 3/16-inch notched trowel. Coverage varies by trowel size and tile type—larger tiles with deeper notches use more mortar. Grout fills joints between tiles and comes in sanded (for joints wider than 1/8 inch) or unsanded (for narrow joints) varieties. One 25-pound bag of grout covers 50-75 square feet depending on tile size and grout line width.

Other essential materials include tile spacers to maintain consistent grout line width (typically 1/16 to 3/8 inch), underlayment or cement backer board for proper substrate especially in wet areas, sealer for natural stone or porous tiles to prevent staining, and edge trim or bullnose tiles for finished edges. Budget for tools including notched trowel matching your tile size, grout float for applying grout, large sponges for cleanup, and either a manual tile cutter for straight cuts or wet saw rental for complex cuts and natural stone. Our calculator estimates thin-set and grout quantities based on typical coverage rates to help you budget complete material needs for professional results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate how many tiles I need?
Calculate tiles needed by measuring room length and width in feet, multiplying to get square footage, calculating individual tile area by converting tile dimensions from inches to feet (12-inch tile = 1 sq ft), dividing room square footage by tile square footage, and adding 10-15% waste for cuts and breakage. For example, a 120 sq ft room with 12×12 inch tiles (1 sq ft each) needs 120 tiles. With 10% waste, order 132 tiles.
What tile size should I choose for my room?
Tile size depends on room dimensions and aesthetic preferences. Small tiles (4×4 to 6×6 inches) work well in bathrooms and small spaces, creating more grout lines. Medium tiles (8×8 to 12×12 inches) are versatile for most rooms including kitchens and medium bathrooms. Large format tiles (12×24 to 24×24 inches and larger) make small rooms appear larger with fewer grout lines, and reduce installation time. Rectangular tiles like 12×24 can make narrow rooms appear wider when installed horizontally.
How much waste should I add when ordering tiles?
Waste percentage accounts for cutting, breakage, and future repairs. Add 10% waste for simple square or rectangular rooms with straight tile layouts, 15% waste for rooms with angles, diagonal patterns, or complex layouts, and 20% waste for intricate patterns like herringbone or chevron. Always round up when calculating tile quantities. Order extra tiles from the same production batch for future repairs, as tile colors and patterns vary between batches.
How many tiles come in a box?
Tiles per box varies by size and manufacturer. Small tiles (4×4 inches) pack 80-100 per box covering 10-15 sq ft. Standard 12×12 inch tiles pack 10-14 per box covering 10-14 sq ft. Large format 18×18 inch tiles pack 6-8 per box covering 15-18 sq ft. Rectangular planks like 6×36 inch wood-look tiles pack 10-15 per box covering 15-22 sq ft. Always check product packaging for exact quantity and coverage per box.
What other materials do I need besides tiles?
Complete tile installations require thin-set mortar or mastic adhesive (one 50lb bag covers approximately 95 sq ft with 3/16-inch trowel), grout for filling joints (one 25lb bag covers 50-75 sq ft depending on grout line width), tile spacers to maintain consistent grout lines, underlayment or backer board for proper substrate, and sealer for natural stone or porous tiles. Also budget for notched trowel, grout float, sponges, and tile cutter or wet saw.
How do I calculate tiles for diagonal or patterned layouts?
Diagonal tile installations require significantly more waste due to edge cuts. Measure room dimensions normally, calculate square footage, and add 20% waste minimum for diagonal layouts. For patterned installations like herringbone, chevron, or basketweave, add 20-25% waste as complex patterns require numerous cuts and have more unusable pieces. Draw your pattern on graph paper first to visualize layout and minimize waste.
Should I buy extra tiles beyond the waste percentage?
Yes, purchase 5-10 extra tiles beyond your calculated need for future repairs and replacements. Tiles break over time from dropped objects, chips from furniture, or damage during renovations. Tile production batches vary in color and finish—matching tiles years later may be impossible if your style is discontinued. Store extra tiles in a dry location. Many retailers accept returns of unopened boxes, so buying an extra box provides insurance.
How much does tile installation cost per square foot?
Professional tile installation costs vary by tile type and complexity. Basic ceramic tile installation runs $5-10 per square foot including labor and materials. Porcelain tile installation costs $5-12 per square foot. Natural stone installation ranges $8-15 per square foot due to special handling. Large format tiles cost $8-15 per square foot due to specialized equipment. Complex patterns or diagonal layouts add $2-5 per square foot. Material costs are additional—budget $1-20 per square foot for tiles depending on quality.

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