Why do I need a waste allowance?

Tiles need to be cut at edges and around obstacles. Typically 10% waste is standard for rectangular rooms, 15% for diagonal patterns or irregular shapes, and up to 20% for complex layouts.

How many tiles come in a box?

This calculator assumes 10 tiles per box, which is a common industry standard. Check your specific product as box quantities vary by manufacturer and tile size.

Does grout width really matter?

Yes, especially with smaller tiles. A 3 mm grout line on 10 cm tiles effectively increases each tile’s footprint by 6%, meaning you need fewer tiles than the raw area calculation suggests.

Should I include the area under cabinets?

Generally no. Measure only the visible floor area. However, some installers prefer tiling under cabinets for future flexibility. Adjust your area measurements accordingly.

Can I use this for wall tiles?

Yes, simply enter the wall height as one dimension and the wall length as the other. For multiple walls, calculate each separately and add the tile counts.

CONConstruction & DIY

Tile Calculator

Estimate how many tiles you need for a floor or wall. Enter the area dimensions, tile size, grout width, and waste allowance to get exact tile counts and boxes to buy.

Units

Switch between metric (m, cm, mm) and imperial (ft, in).

Area Length

Area Width

Tile Length

Tile Width

Grout Width(optional)

Waste Allowance(optional)

Try an example

Enter values above to see results

How It Works

Formula

A = L_a \cdot W_a

A_t = (L_t + g)(W_t + g)

N = \left\lceil \frac{A}{A_t} \right\rceil

N_w = \left\lceil N \cdot \left(1 + \frac{w}{100}\right) \right\rceil

B = \left\lceil \frac{N_w}{10} \right\rceil

Where

$L_a$: Area length(m)
$W_a$: Area width(m)
$L_t$: Tile length (converted to m)(m)
$W_t$: Tile width (converted to m)(m)
$g$: Grout width (converted to m)(m)
$w$: Waste allowance(%)
$A$: Total area to tile(m²)
$A_t$: Effective tile footprint including grout(m²)
$N$: Exact tile count (rounded up)
$N_w$: Tile count including waste (rounded up)
$B$: Boxes to buy at 10 tiles per box (rounded up)

Enter the area length and width, tile dimensions, grout width, and waste percentage. The calculator computes the total area, the effective tile area including grout, divides to get the exact tile count, adds waste, and rounds up to whole boxes of 10.

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