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Tile Calculator

Find out how many tiles you need for a floor, wall, backsplash, shower or other tile project. Add your area, tile size and sensible allowance for cuts and waste.

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Tile quantity calculator

Calculate the area, tile coverage and purchase quantity

For most projects, calculate the surface area, divide it by the coverage of one tile, then add extra tile for cuts and breakage. The challenge is choosing the right allowance and measuring rooms, walls and patterns that are not perfectly straightforward.

01

Measure the surface

For a rectangular floor, length × width gives total square feet. For a wall, use width × height.

02

Find tile coverage

For inch measurements, tile length × tile width ÷ 144 gives square feet per tile.

03

Add waste and round up

Divide the project area by tile coverage, add waste, then round tiles and cartons up.

Example: 12 ft × 10 ft room with 12 × 24 inch tiles

  1. 1. Room area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq. ft.
  2. 2. Tile coverage: 12 × 24 ÷ 144 = 2 sq. ft.
  3. 3. Base quantity: 120 ÷ 2 = 60 tiles
  4. 4. Add your waste allowance before ordering.

Square feet and tile coverage

Measure the right way before you calculate

Floors and walls

A 14 ft × 11 ft floor is 154 sq. ft. For a wall, multiply width × height: a 10 ft wide × 8 ft high wall is 80 sq. ft. Add individual wall sections together when using the same tile.

Small areas measured in inches

Backsplashes are often easier to measure in inches. A 96 in × 18 in backsplash is 1,728 sq. in.; divide by 144 to get 12 sq. ft. Keep all measurements in the same unit to avoid a common estimating mistake.

Coverage per tile

Tile coverage is the mathematical face of one tile. It does not include grout joints, cuts, damaged pieces or waste. For example, a 12 × 24 inch tile covers 2 sq. ft.; 150 sq. ft. therefore needs 75 tiles before waste.

Tile sizeCoverage per tile
4 × 4 in.0.111 sq. ft.
6 × 6 in.0.25 sq. ft.
12 × 12 in.1 sq. ft.
12 × 24 in.2 sq. ft.
18 × 18 in.2.25 sq. ft.
24 × 24 in.4 sq. ft.

Waste allowance

How much extra tile should you buy?

Do not order exactly the basic mathematical quantity. Cuts around walls, corners, doorways, cabinets, pipes and drains, plus breakage during cutting or installation, all need allowance.

10%

Simple straight installation

15%

More complicated layouts

20%

Diagonal, herringbone or cut-heavy work

Example with 10% waste

If your project needs 75 tiles before waste, 75 × 1.10 = 82.5, so buy 83 tiles. If cartons hold 10 tiles, 83 ÷ 10 = 8.3; round up again and buy 9 cartons. Final order quantities should always be whole packages.

Different projects

Tile measurement calculator for floors, backsplashes and showers

The calculation changes slightly depending on the project. Add individual rectangles rather than trying to estimate a complicated shape as one large area.

Floor tile

For a rectangular floor, multiply length × width. For an L-shaped or irregular floor, divide the space into smaller rectangles, calculate each section and add the results.

Bathroom floor

Measure the usable floor area. Calculate separate sections, such as the main bathroom and an enclosed area, individually. Do not assume the room is perfectly square; small differences affect edge cuts and layout.

Kitchen backsplash

Measure each tiled section separately. An 8 ft × 1.5 ft section is 12 sq. ft.; a 4 ft × 1.5 ft section is 6 sq. ft. Together, they require 18 sq. ft. before waste.

Shower walls and floor

Calculate every wall as width × height, then add the tiled walls. Measure a niche, bench or curb separately. Calculate the shower floor separately when it uses a different tile size or mosaic sheet.

Irregular rooms

For an L-shaped room, 10 ft × 8 ft = 80 sq. ft. and 6 ft × 5 ft = 30 sq. ft. Total: 110 sq. ft. With 10% extra, plan for 121 sq. ft. of tile coverage.

Boxes and cartons

If you require 121 sq. ft. after waste and a carton covers 18 sq. ft., 121 ÷ 18 = 6.72. Round up to 7 cartons. Manufacturer-stated coverage per carton is usually the best purchase figure.

Layout matters

Two 100 sq. ft. rooms can need different cuts. Consider centering, visible walls, doors, cabinets, drains, niches, plumbing, edge cuts and tile direction before installation.

Layout and pattern

Patterns change the quantity

A waste percentage is a planning starting point. Detailed layout work is especially useful where tiles are expensive, the room is irregular or the installation has many cuts.

Straight lay

Tiles sit in rows and columns. It is usually the simplest pattern to estimate for a rectangular room.

Offset or brick pattern

Rows are shifted. The amount of waste depends on the offset and room dimensions.

Diagonal

Tiles are turned at an angle, which creates more perimeter cuts and usually needs a higher allowance.

Herringbone

This pattern creates many perimeter cuts and needs careful planning for direction and alignment.

12 × 24 inch floor tile example

  1. 1. A 15 ft × 12 ft room is 180 sq. ft.
  2. 2. A 12 × 24 tile covers 2 sq. ft.
  3. 3. 180 ÷ 2 = 90 tiles before waste.
  4. 4. With 10% waste, plan for 99 tiles.
  5. 5. At 6 tiles per box, 99 ÷ 6 = 16.5, so buy 17 boxes.

Backsplash example

A backsplash that is 12 ft wide and 18 in high is 18 sq. ft. after converting 18 in to 1.5 ft. A 4 × 4 inch tile covers about 0.111 sq. ft., so the project needs approximately 162 tiles before waste and about 179 tiles with 10% extra.

Budget and materials

A tile quantity estimate is not the whole installation estimate

Tile material cost

For material only: purchased square feet × price per square foot = tile cost. If you need 121 sq. ft. at $4.25 per sq. ft., the material estimate is $514.25. Labour, demolition, delivery and preparation are separate costs.

Adhesive

Do not use a generic adhesive amount. Mortar coverage changes with product, trowel size, tile dimensions, substrate and installation method. Divide project area by the specific manufacturer's published coverage, then round up bags.

Grout

Grout depends on tile length, width, thickness, joint width, total area and product. Small tiles and wider joints use more grout, so follow the grout manufacturer's coverage chart.

Potential installation costs to plan for
• Tile• Extra tile for waste• Mortar or thin-set• Grout• Spacers• Backer board or underlayment• Waterproofing• Trim or edge profiles• Sealant• Demolition• Disposal• Labour• Delivery• Cutting equipment

Plan before ordering

What to measure and mistakes to avoid

Before you start

  • • Room length and width
  • • Additional sections
  • • Areas that will not receive tile
  • • Tile length and width
  • • Grout-joint width
  • • Tile pattern
  • • Carton coverage
  • • Tile price
  • • Adhesive and grout coverage

For complicated rooms, make a simple sketch and write measurements directly on it. This helps avoid measuring one section twice or missing a small area.

Common mistakes

  • Buying the exact calculation: cuts and breakage need additional material.
  • Forgetting the pattern: herringbone and diagonal layouts need more allowance.
  • Mixing inches and feet: keep units consistent before calculating.
  • Using assumed carton coverage: always read the product packaging.
  • Ignoring tile direction or future repairs: save a few matching tiles from the same batch.

Grout spacing and movement

Grout spacing usually does not materially change basic square footage, but it changes how tiles fit across a finished space and is important for avoiding narrow edge cuts. Larger tiled fields also need movement planning around perimeters, transitions, doorsills and other locations according to the applicable tile-system and setting-material instructions.

Quick reference

Tile calculator formulas

Room areaLength × Width = Square Feet
Wall areaWidth × Height = Square Feet
Area from inchesLength × Width ÷ 144 = Square Feet
Tile coverageTile Length × Tile Width ÷ 144 = Sq Ft per Tile
Base quantityProject Area ÷ Tile Coverage = Tiles Needed
With wasteBase Tiles × (1 + Waste Percentage) = Purchase Quantity
BoxesRequired Tiles ÷ Tiles Per Box = Boxes Needed
Material costPurchased Square Feet × Price Per Sq Ft = Tile Cost
AdhesiveProject Area ÷ Manufacturer Coverage = Bags Needed

Always round up when material is sold in whole tiles, cartons or bags.

Helpful answers

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how many tiles I need?

Measure the area in square feet, calculate the square-foot coverage of one tile, divide the project area by tile coverage, and add extra material for cuts and waste before ordering.

How much extra tile should I buy?

Around 10% extra is a reasonable starting point for a simple straight layout. More complicated patterns, diagonal layouts, irregular rooms and projects with many cuts may need 15% to 20% or more.

How many 12 × 24 tiles do I need for 100 square feet?

A 12 × 24 inch tile covers 2 square feet. You need 50 tiles before waste; with 10% extra, plan for approximately 55 tiles.

How do I calculate tile for an L-shaped room?

Divide the room into smaller rectangles, calculate the area of each one, add them together, and apply the waste allowance to the total.

Should I buy tile by square feet or by the box?

Calculate square footage first, then check the manufacturer’s stated coverage per box. Divide required coverage by carton coverage and round up to a whole box.

Does tile size affect the number of tiles I need?

Yes. Larger tiles cover more area per piece, so you need fewer individual tiles. Smaller tiles need more pieces for the same area.

Can a tile calculator estimate grout and adhesive?

It can help plan a project, but grout and adhesive should be calculated using the specific product’s coverage information. Trowel size, joint width, installation method and jobsite conditions change consumption.

Is 10% waste enough for tile?

It can be enough for a simple rectangular installation. More complicated rooms and patterns may need more. A detailed layout is useful when tile is expensive or a project has many cuts.

How do I calculate tile for a shower?

Calculate each shower wall separately using width × height, then calculate the shower floor separately. Combine them only when they use the same tile and you want one total quantity.

Should I keep leftover tiles?

Yes. Keep unused tiles from the same product and production batch if storage allows. They are useful for future repairs when an exact replacement may be unavailable.

Before you buy

Tile quantity checklist

A calculator makes quantity estimating easier, but accurate measurements and a sensible layout make the final order reliable.

✓ Room or surface measurements

✓ Total square footage

✓ Tile dimensions

✓ Tile coverage per piece

✓ Tile coverage per carton

✓ Waste allowance

✓ Layout pattern

✓ Grout-joint width

✓ Tile price

✓ Mortar or adhesive coverage

✓ Grout coverage

✓ Required backer board or waterproofing

✓ Trim and edge pieces

✓ A few spare tiles for repairs

For a simple project, calculate square footage, divide by tile coverage, add waste and round up to complete cartons. For larger or more complicated work, account for layout, cuts, grout joints and installation materials before placing an order.