Construction
Tile Calculator
Calculate tiles, area, and waste for flooring or walls
FAQs
How do I calculate tiles needed?
Divide the total area of the room by the area of a single tile. If your room is 100 sq ft and your tiles are 1 sq ft (12x12), you need 100 tiles. Always add 10% for waste.
Why should I add a waste percentage?
Waste accounts for tiles that need to be cut to fit edges, accidental breakage during installation, and ensuring you have enough for future repairs. 10% is standard; 15% is safer for complex patterns.
How many tiles are in a box?
It varies by manufacturer and tile size. Many standard 12x12 tiles come 12 to a box, covering 12 sq ft. Check your specific tile packaging to adjust the box estimate.
How to Use the Tile Calculator
Planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation? This calculator helps you determine exactly how many tiles and boxes you need to buy, preventing multiple trips to the hardware store.
- Measure the length and width of the room or wall you want to tile.
- Enter the dimensions in feet or meters.
- Input the size of one side of your square tile (in inches).
- Select your waste percentage (10% is recommended for standard patterns).
- Review the total tiles and boxes required.
Tile Calculation Logic
We calculate area first, then divide by the coverage of a single tile.
Total Area
Calculates the total surface square footage (or square meters) to be covered.
Example:
Input: 10' x 12' room
Calculation: 10 × 12
Result: 120 sq ft
Tile Coverage
Converts tile inches to feet to find the square footage each tile covers.
Example:
Input: 12" x 12" tile
Calculation: (12/12) × (12/12)
Result: 1 sq ft
Quantity with Waste
Includes a 10% buffer for cuts, corners, and potential breakage during installation.
Example:
Input: 120 tiles needed
Calculation: 120 × 1.10
Result: 132 tiles
Common Tiling Projects
Versatile calculations for different home improvement tasks.
Bathroom Floor Renovation
Calculate standard ceramic or porcelain tiles for a moisture-heavy environment.
Kitchen Backsplash
Switch to smaller tile sizes to estimate the number of subway or mosaic tiles needed for a wall project.
Outdoor Patio
Use larger pavers or outdoor tiles for landscaping projects, adding a higher waste factor for irregular edges.
Professional Tiling Tips
Tips
- Always buy at least one extra box beyond the calculation for future repairs (tiles get discontinued).
- For diagonal or herringbone patterns, increase your waste factor to 15-20%.
- Check your tile boxes to ensure they all come from the same 'Lot' or 'Batch' for color consistency.
- If your room isn't a perfect rectangle, divide it into smaller sections and calculate each separately.
- Don't forget to factor in the thinset (adhesive) and grout, which are calculated separately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not accounting for the waste percentage, leading to a shortage of matching tiles.
- Mixing up metric and imperial units during initial room measurements.
- Forgetting to subtract areas where tiles won't go (e.g., under fixed cabinets).