Floors & walls
Tile Calculator
Plan a floor, backsplash, or wall with an order quantity that accounts for cuts and breakage—not just raw square footage.
How to calculate it
- Measure the full surface at its widest points.
- Enter the face size printed on the tile specification.
- Choose a waste allowance: 10% for straight layouts or 15–20% for diagonal and patterned work.
What the calculator is doing
Tiles = ceil[(surface area × (1 + waste %)) ÷ face area of one tile]; boxes = ceil(tiles ÷ pieces per box).
- Tile face area is converted from square inches to square feet before division.
- The tile count is rounded up first; the box count is then rounded up again because partial boxes cannot be ordered.
- Nominal tile size is suitable for purchasing, but a layout drawing should use the manufacturer’s actual dimensions and grout joint.
Buying checklist
- Confirm the exact pieces and coverage per box.
- Check caliber, shade, and dye-lot identifiers on every carton.
- Separate field tile from trim, bullnose, mosaics, and threshold pieces.
- Sketch the starting line so narrow edge cuts are visible before ordering.
Common mistakes
Dividing by box coverage too early
Add waste before rounding to cartons; otherwise the final carton may not cover cuts.
Treating every offcut as reusable
An offcut from one wall often cannot begin the next row when the pattern or edge profile matters.
Mixing batches
Tiles with the same product code can still vary in shade or size between production runs.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra tile should I buy?+
Ten percent is typical for a simple straight layout. Use 15% or more for diagonal patterns, many corners, fragile tile, or uncertain measurements.
Does grout width change the result?+
For most room estimates the effect is small, so this calculator uses nominal tile dimensions. Confirm modular dimensions for large commercial layouts.