How many tiles are in a box? It depends on the tile size, shape, material, and manufacturer. A box of small tiles can contain dozens of pieces, while a carton of large-format tile may contain only two or four tiles. There is no universal number for every tile box.
For a real project, the number of pieces is not the most important figure. Square feet per box tells you how much area the carton can cover, which makes it much easier to calculate how many boxes you need. If you already know your room dimensions, you can use our Tile Calculator to estimate the area, tile quantity, waste, and total boxes required.
How Many Tiles Are in a Box?
A tile box can contain anywhere from a few large tiles to dozens of smaller pieces. The exact quantity depends mainly on tile size and the manufacturer’s packaging.
For example, manufacturer specifications show that a carton can contain:
- 2 pieces of 24 × 48-inch tile
- 4 pieces of 24 × 24-inch tile
- 6 pieces of 12 × 24-inch tile
- 9 pieces of another 12 × 24-inch product
- 16 or more pieces of smaller tiles
These are real product examples, not standard box quantities. Daltile product specifications show 24 × 48-inch tile packaged at 2 pieces per carton, 24 × 24-inch tile at 4 pieces, and 12 × 24-inch tile at 6 pieces for one product line. Another Daltile 12 × 24-inch product is packaged differently, showing why you should always check the exact carton.
The safest rule is simple: never guess the number of tiles in a box from tile size alone. Check the manufacturer’s stated pieces per carton and square-foot coverage.
Why the Number of Tiles in a Box Varies
There is no standard rule requiring every box of tile to contain a specific number of pieces.
Several factors affect the packaging.
Tile Size
Tile size has the biggest effect.
A 4 × 4-inch tile takes up only 16 square inches. A 24 × 24-inch tile takes up 576 square inches.
That means one 24 × 24-inch tile covers the same mathematical area as 36 tiles measuring 4 × 4 inches.
So it makes sense for a box of small tiles to contain many more pieces than a box of large-format tile.
Tile Shape
Square and rectangular tiles are easy to package, but hexagons, planks, decorative shapes, and specialty tiles can have different quantities.
A product may also be sold as a coordinated pattern where several shapes are included together.
Tile Material
Ceramic, porcelain, glass, and natural stone do not all have the same weight or handling requirements.
Natural stone can be especially heavy, while glass tile may need protective packaging. These factors can affect the number of pieces packed into one carton.
Manufacturer
Two companies can sell tiles with the same nominal dimensions but package them differently.
For example, one 12 × 24-inch tile may have 6 pieces per carton, while another 12 × 24-inch product may have 5, 8, or another number.
Current manufacturer specifications demonstrate this difference. Marazzi, for example, lists one 12 × 24-inch natural stone product at 5 pieces per carton for certain variations and 6 for another, with different carton coverage depending on the product.
Packaging Coverage
Manufacturers often design cartons around a particular amount of surface coverage.
That is why square feet per carton is usually more useful than the piece count when you’re trying to calculate how much tile to buy.
How Many Square Feet Are in a Box of Tile?
There is no fixed square-foot coverage for every tile box.
A carton might cover 10 square feet, 12 square feet, 15 square feet, or another amount.
The coverage depends on the tile dimensions and the actual product specifications.
For example, Daltile lists one 24 × 48-inch product at 15.49 square feet per carton with 2 pieces. Its 24 × 24-inch version is also listed at 15.49 square feet with 4 pieces, while the 12 × 24-inch version is listed at 11.62 square feet with 6 pieces.
This gives you an important lesson:
Do not assume that the number of pieces in the box tells you the coverage.
Always look for:
Sq. Ft. Per Carton
or
Coverage Per Carton
on the product label or specification sheet.
That number is what you need when calculating the number of boxes for your project.
How to Find Out How Many Tiles Are in a Box
If you already have the tile, look at the carton label.
You may see information such as:
- Pieces per carton
- Pieces per box
- Tiles per box
- Sq. ft. per carton
- Coverage per carton
- Tile size
- Actual dimensions
- Product number
- Lot or shade information
If you are buying online, check the product specifications.
Topps Tiles, for example, explains that the number of tiles per box is listed on the individual product page rather than being a universal number for every tile.
For a U.S. project, manufacturer specifications are the best source for the exact quantity.
How to Calculate How Many Boxes of Tile You Need
Once you know how much area you need to cover, calculating boxes is straightforward.
Use this formula:
Required Tile Area ÷ Square Feet Per Box = Boxes Needed
But before dividing, you should account for cutting and waste.
A better complete formula is:
Project Area × Waste Factor ÷ Box Coverage = Boxes Needed
Then round the answer up to the next complete box.
Example
Suppose your floor is:
- 12 feet long
- 10 feet wide
First calculate the floor area:
12 × 10 = 120 sq. ft.
Now allow 10% extra:
120 × 1.10 = 132 sq. ft.
Your tile box covers 15 square feet.
Now calculate:
132 ÷ 15 = 8.8 boxes
You cannot buy 8.8 boxes, so round up.
You need 9 boxes.
If each box contains 6 tiles:
9 × 6 = 54 tiles
So your final order would be 9 boxes containing 54 tiles.
The important number for the project is still the 9 boxes and their total coverage, not simply the 54-piece count.
How Much Extra Tile Should You Buy?
The exact amount depends on the project.
For a simple straight installation, 10% extra is commonly used as a practical starting point.
More complicated installations may need more because there can be more cuts and unusable pieces.
Consider allowing additional material for:
- Diagonal layouts
- Herringbone patterns
- Chevron patterns
- Irregular rooms
- Many corners
- Shower niches
- Door openings
- Plumbing cuts
- Small rooms with many edge cuts
- Fragile or difficult-to-replace tiles
A 10% allowance is not a guarantee that every project will have enough. It is a planning starting point.
The goal is to avoid two expensive mistakes: buying too little and buying far more than you need.
Why Square Feet Per Box Matters More Than Pieces Per Box
Imagine two tile products.
Product A
- 10 tiles per box
- 15 sq. ft. per box
Product B
- 6 tiles per box
- 12 sq. ft. per box
If your project requires 120 square feet, the piece count does not tell you how many boxes to buy.
For Product A:
120 ÷ 15 = 8 boxes
For Product B:
120 ÷ 12 = 10 boxes
Even though Product A has more tiles per box, you need fewer boxes because each carton covers more area.
That is why box coverage should be the main number used for project calculations.
How Many 12 × 12 Tiles Are in a Box?
A 12 × 12-inch tile has a mathematical area of exactly 1 square foot.
So if a box contains 12 tiles, the mathematical coverage would be 12 square feet.
If it contains 16 tiles, the mathematical coverage would be 16 square feet.
However, the actual manufacturer-stated coverage can be slightly different because the actual tile dimensions may not be exactly 12 × 12 inches.
For example, Daltile lists one 12 × 12-inch product at 16 pieces per carton with 15.52 square feet of carton coverage.
So don’t automatically multiply the nominal tile size by the piece count and assume that is the exact purchasing coverage.
Use the coverage printed on the box.
How Many 12 × 24 Tiles Are in a Box?
A 12 × 24-inch tile has a mathematical area of:
12 × 24 ÷ 144 = 2 sq. ft.
So six tiles would mathematically represent 12 square feet.
But actual product coverage can differ slightly.
One Daltile 12 × 24-inch product is listed at:
- 6 pieces per carton
- 11.62 square feet per carton
Another Daltile 12 × 24-inch product is listed with 8 pieces per carton and 15.60 square feet per carton.
This is a perfect example of why there is no universal answer to “how many 12 × 24 tiles are in a box?”
The product determines the answer.
How Many 24 × 24 Tiles Are in a Box?
A 24 × 24-inch tile covers:
24 × 24 ÷ 144 = 4 sq. ft.
Large-format tile therefore needs fewer pieces to cover the same area.
For example, one Daltile product specification lists:
4 pieces per carton
with approximately:
15.49 square feet per carton
for 24 × 24-inch tile.
Another manufacturer or product line may use a different carton quantity.
So if you are buying 24 × 24 tile, check the box before calculating your order.
How Many 24 × 48 Tiles Are in a Box?
24 × 48-inch tile is considered large-format tile.
One tile has a mathematical area of:
24 × 48 ÷ 144 = 8 sq. ft.
A Daltile product specification lists 24 × 48-inch tile at 2 pieces per carton, with approximately 15.49 square feet of coverage.
Only two tiles might sound like a very small box quantity, but each tile covers a large surface.
This is why comparing tile boxes by piece count alone can be misleading.
How Many Mosaic Tiles Are in a Box?
Mosaic tile works differently from regular floor tile.
Mosaics are often mounted onto mesh-backed sheets. Instead of buying a box containing hundreds of loose pieces, you may receive several complete sheets.
For example, a manufacturer may specify:
- 12 × 12-inch sheet
- 10 sheets per carton
- Approximately 10 sq. ft. per carton
The small pieces attached to each sheet are not usually what you count when calculating the project.
Use:
Sheets Per Box
and
Square Feet Per Box
instead.
Marazzi product specifications show this type of packaging for mesh-mounted mosaics, including products sold in multiple sheets per carton with a stated square-foot coverage.
How Many Boxes Do I Need for a Tile Floor?
Let’s use a realistic U.S. floor project.
Suppose the room is:
15 ft × 12 ft
Area:
15 × 12 = 180 sq. ft.
Add 10%:
180 × 1.10 = 198 sq. ft.
Your selected tile covers:
16 sq. ft. per box
Now divide:
198 ÷ 16 = 12.375
Round up:
13 boxes
If each box contains 8 tiles:
13 × 8 = 104 tiles
Your order is therefore:
13 boxes / 104 tiles
The 13-box figure is what matters for purchasing because the tile is packaged by carton.
How Many Boxes Do I Need for a Bathroom?
Bathrooms are slightly more complicated because you may tile several separate surfaces.
Suppose you have:
Bathroom floor: 45 sq. ft.
Shower walls: 70 sq. ft.
Shower floor: 12 sq. ft.
If the same tile is being used everywhere:
45 + 70 + 12 = 127 sq. ft.
With 10% extra:
127 × 1.10 = 139.7 sq. ft.
If each box covers 12 square feet:
139.7 ÷ 12 = 11.64
Round up:
12 boxes
But if the bathroom uses different tile on the floor, shower walls, and shower floor, calculate each tile separately.
That gives you a much more accurate quantity.
How Many Boxes Do I Need for a Kitchen Backsplash?
A backsplash may have a smaller area, but it can require a surprising number of cuts.
Suppose the backsplash area is:
24 sq. ft.
Add 10%:
24 × 1.10 = 26.4 sq. ft.
Your tile comes in boxes covering 10 square feet.
26.4 ÷ 10 = 2.64
Round up:
3 boxes
You may also want a little more material if the backsplash has multiple outlets, corners, windows, or decorative patterns.
What If My Room Is Not a Rectangle?
Don’t try to force an irregular room into one length × width calculation.
Instead, divide it into smaller rectangles.
For example:
Section A:
10 ft × 8 ft = 80 sq. ft.
Section B:
6 ft × 5 ft = 30 sq. ft.
Total:
80 + 30 = 110 sq. ft.
Add 10%:
110 × 1.10 = 121 sq. ft.
If each box covers 15 square feet:
121 ÷ 15 = 8.07
Round up:
9 boxes
This approach works well for L-shaped floors, rooms with extensions, and other simple irregular spaces.
Does Tile Size Change the Number of Boxes?
Yes.
Larger tiles generally mean fewer individual pieces are needed to cover the same area.
Consider a 100-square-foot room:
12 × 12-inch tile
Each tile covers about 1 sq. ft.
You need about:
100 tiles before waste
12 × 24-inch tile
Each tile covers about 2 sq. ft.
You need about:
50 tiles before waste
24 × 24-inch tile
Each tile covers about 4 sq. ft.
You need about:
25 tiles before waste
These are mathematical quantities before accounting for actual manufacturer dimensions, layout cuts, and waste.
The box count still depends on how many pieces and how much square-foot coverage the manufacturer assigns to each carton.
Does Tile Pattern Affect How Many Boxes I Need?
Yes.
A straight grid layout generally creates fewer complicated cuts than patterns such as herringbone or diagonal layouts.
For example, imagine two 100-square-foot floors using the exact same tile:
- Floor A uses a straight layout.
- Floor B uses a diagonal pattern.
The surface area is identical, but Floor B may produce more cut pieces around the perimeter.
The same can happen with herringbone and chevron patterns.
If your project uses an expensive tile, a complicated pattern, or an unusual room shape, it is worth planning the actual layout instead of relying only on a basic percentage.
Should You Buy a Full Extra Box?
Usually, yes, if the calculation lands close to the next full box.
Suppose your calculation says:
7.1 boxes
You need to buy:
8 boxes
You cannot purchase 7.1 cartons.
The additional material is also useful if you have unexpected cuts or breakage.
However, don’t automatically add several extra boxes without calculating your project first. Excess tile costs money and takes up storage space.
The best approach is:
Measure accurately → calculate coverage → add reasonable waste → round up to a complete box.
Why You Should Keep Leftover Tiles
Don’t throw away every leftover tile after installation.
A few spare pieces can be extremely useful for future repairs.
A tile may crack years later because of impact, movement, or another issue. If the original product is discontinued, finding an exact replacement can become difficult.
Keep spare tiles in a dry, protected location and save the product name, size, color, and other identification information with them.
This is particularly useful for specialty, decorative, natural stone, and discontinued-looking products.
Check the Actual Tile Size Before Calculating
One detail that can easily cause confusion is the difference between nominal size and actual size.
A tile sold as 12 × 24 inches may have actual dimensions slightly smaller than those nominal measurements.
For example, one Daltile 12 × 24 product lists actual dimensions of approximately 11-13/16 × 23-13/16 inches while still being sold as a 12 × 24 tile. Its product sheet also provides the carton square footage and piece count.
For basic quantity planning, use the manufacturer’s stated square feet per carton.
For detailed layout planning, the actual dimensions and recommended grout joint also matter.
Don’t Confuse Tile Quantity With Installation Materials
Knowing how many tiles are in a box tells you about the tile itself. It does not tell you how much mortar, adhesive, or grout you need.
Those materials depend on additional factors.
For example, tile adhesive coverage can change with the trowel size, tile size, substrate, installation conditions, and application method. CUSTOM’s product information provides different coverage ranges for different trowel sizes and notes that actual coverage can vary with installation practices and jobsite conditions.
So don’t calculate mortar or grout simply by assuming that one bag or container covers the same number of square feet for every tile installation.
Use the coverage information for the specific product you are installing.
Tile Box Calculator Formula
For most rectangular tile projects, this formula is enough:
Boxes Needed = (Project Area × Waste Factor) ÷ Square Feet Per Box
For example:
120 × 1.10 ÷ 15 = 8.8
Round up:
9 boxes
If you want to calculate the total number of individual tiles:
Boxes Needed × Tiles Per Box = Total Tiles
For 9 boxes containing 6 tiles each:
9 × 6 = 54 tiles
So:
9 boxes = 54 tiles
assuming the product has 6 pieces in each carton.
How to Use a Tile Calculator for Box Quantity
A tile calculator makes the process easier because you don’t have to work through every calculation manually.
For a typical project, enter:
- Length of the area
- Width of the area
- Tile length
- Tile width
- Waste percentage
- Square feet per box, if the calculator supports box quantity
The calculator can then help determine:
- Total project area
- Tile coverage
- Base tile quantity
- Extra tiles
- Total required quantity
- Number of boxes
- Remaining coverage after rounding up
For an irregular space, calculate each rectangular section separately and combine the areas before determining your box quantity.
Tile Box Buying Checklist
Before you place an order, check these numbers:
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
| Tile size | Determines coverage per piece |
| Pieces per box | Tells you individual tile quantity |
| Sq. ft. per box | Determines how many boxes you need |
| Actual dimensions | Helps with accurate layout |
| Tile type | Confirms whether it suits the intended area |
| Waste allowance | Prevents running short |
| Lot or shade | Helps keep visible tile consistent |
| Box quantity | Determines your final order |
| Spare tiles | Useful for future repairs |
For large or expensive projects, check the product documentation before ordering rather than relying on a generic tile-size chart.
Common Mistakes When Calculating Tile Boxes
Assuming every 12 × 24 box has the same number of tiles
It doesn’t. Different products can have different pieces-per-carton and coverage figures.
Using piece count instead of square-foot coverage
Six tiles in one box do not tell you enough unless you know the tile size and actual coverage.
Forgetting waste
A mathematically perfect quantity is rarely the best purchasing quantity.
Forgetting to round up
If the result is 8.2 boxes, you need 9 boxes.
Ignoring irregular areas
An L-shaped room should be divided into smaller sections rather than treated as one simple rectangle.
Buying different shades without checking
Tile from different production lots can vary in shade or appearance. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and product information before mixing cartons.
Throwing away leftover tiles
A few spare pieces can save you from having to replace a larger section later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tiles are normally in a box?
There is no standard number. Depending on the tile, a box may contain only a few large-format pieces or many smaller tiles. Always check the product’s pieces-per-carton specification.
How many 12 × 12 tiles are in a box?
It varies by manufacturer and product. A 12 × 12 tile mathematically covers 1 square foot, but the actual box quantity can differ. One Daltile example lists 16 pieces per carton and 15.52 square feet of coverage.
How many 12 × 24 tiles are in a box?
There is no universal quantity. Current manufacturer specifications show different packaging for different products, including examples of 6 and 8 pieces per carton.
How many 24 × 24 tiles are in a box?
It depends on the product. One Daltile specification lists 4 pieces per carton with 15.49 square feet of coverage.
How many 24 × 48 tiles are in a box?
One Daltile product specification lists 2 pieces per carton, with approximately 15.49 square feet of coverage. Other products can differ.
How many square feet does one box of tile cover?
There is no universal coverage amount. Check the carton or manufacturer’s product specification for the exact square feet per box.
How many boxes do I need for 100 square feet?
First add your waste allowance. With 10% extra, 100 square feet becomes 110 square feet. If one box covers 15 square feet:
110 ÷ 15 = 7.33
Round up to 8 boxes.
Should I calculate tiles by pieces or square feet?
For purchasing, calculate by square-foot coverage per box. Piece count is useful as additional information, but carton coverage is the better figure for determining how many boxes you need.
Are mosaic tiles counted differently?
Yes. Mosaic products are often sold as mesh-mounted sheets. Use the square-foot coverage per sheet and per carton instead of counting every small mosaic piece.
Should I buy extra tile for repairs?
Keeping some spare tile is a smart idea, especially for specialty or difficult-to-match products. Store the extras safely and keep the product information with them.
The Easiest Way to Know How Many Tile Boxes You Need
The answer to how many tiles are in a box depends on the exact product. There is no reliable universal number because manufacturers package different tile sizes and materials differently.
For your project, don’t stop at the piece count.
First calculate the area:
Length × Width = Square Feet
Then allow for cuts and waste:
Square Feet × Waste Factor = Required Coverage
Finally calculate boxes:
Required Coverage ÷ Square Feet Per Box = Boxes Needed
Round up to the next complete box.
If you have a 120-square-foot floor, 10% extra, and each box covers 15 square feet:
120 × 1.10 ÷ 15 = 8.8
So you need:
9 boxes
If each carton contains 6 tiles:
9 × 6 = 54 tiles
That’s the practical way to approach tile quantity. The number of tiles in the box tells you how many pieces you are getting; the square-foot coverage tells you how much of your project the box can actually cover.
For a faster calculation, use the Tile Calculator with your project measurements and tile size, then check the manufacturer’s carton coverage before placing your final order.