Tile Calculator
Get the tile count and box count for a floor, backsplash or shower wall, with a waste allowance built in. Kitchen and bath remodelers can build material lists from it, and homeowners can check an order before the store run.
Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is stored unless you choose to email yourself the results.
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Email me these results. We'll send your numbers, plus how to turn this calculator into a lead magnet on your own website.
Three steps, about a minute
Step 1
Measure each surface, total the square footage and enter it in Area to tile.
Step 2
Choose the Tile size and a Waste factor, raising it for diagonal or herringbone layouts.
Step 3
Copy Coverage per box from the carton to get Tiles needed and Boxes to order.
How the tile calculator works
Waste goes on first: area × (1 + waste ÷ 100). That padded area is divided by the face area of one tile and rounded up for the tile count. Sizes are nominal, so a 3×6 subway tile counts as 0.125 sq ft, a 12×12 or a 6×24 plank as 1 sq ft, a 12×24 as 2 sq ft and a 24×24 as 4 sq ft. Grout joints are ignored, which leaves a small cushion. Boxes are the padded area ÷ coverage per box, rounded up. At the default 80 sq ft of 12×24 tile with 10% waste and 15 sq ft boxes, you need 88 sq ft, 44 tiles and 6 boxes. Use 10% waste for straight layouts and 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone patterns. Confirm the carton's coverage, since it varies by product.
| Area to tile | 80 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Tile size | 12×24 |
| Waste factor | 10% |
| Coverage per box | 15 sq ft |
| Area incl. waste | 88 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Tiles needed | 44 |
| Boxes to order | 6 |
Use 10% waste for straight layouts and 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone patterns.
Using the numbers like a pro: tips for kitchen and bath remodelers
Order every box from the same lot or batch number. Shade and size can shift between production runs, and a mismatched box found halfway up a shower wall means a costly callback.
Leave a few spare tiles, or a full box, with the homeowner when you finish. Future repairs get much easier, and it's a small courtesy people remember.
Quote pattern work at a higher install rate as well as higher waste. Herringbone, diagonal and mosaic layouts take more cuts and more hours per square foot than a straight lay.
Put a calculator like this on your own website
Homeowners planning a bathroom search for tile quantities while they're still picking finishes, before they've chosen an installer. A calculator on your remodeling page that emails the full material list in exchange for contact details puts you in the project early. Show photos of your finished tile work right beside it. We can wire a version like this into your bathroom remodel page.
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Tile Calculator questions
How many tiles do I need for 100 square feet?
Add waste first. With 10% waste, 100 sq ft becomes 110 sq ft. That is 110 tiles at 12×12, 55 tiles at 12×24, 28 tiles at 24×24 (27.5 rounded up) or 880 subway tiles at 3×6. Use more waste for diagonal or patterned layouts.
How much extra tile should I buy?
A common rule of thumb is 10% extra for straight layouts and 15% or more for diagonal, herringbone or other patterns. Rooms with lots of corners, cutouts or niches need more. A few spare tiles after the job also make future repairs easier, since the same color may not be available later.
How many square feet are in a box of tile?
It depends on the tile size and the manufacturer, so read the carton or product listing. Coverage per box is printed in square feet. Divide your total area, including waste, by that number and round up to get the number of boxes to order.
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