Tile Calculator

Tiles are sold in fixed sizes and usually in boxes with a set number inside, so a tiling estimate eventually becomes a whole number of boxes. The arithmetic starts with the area to cover and the area of a single tile — a twelve-inch tile covers one square foot, a six-inch tile a quarter of that — but the number you finally buy is always higher than a straight division suggests, because tiles get cut and sometimes break. Waste comes from edges and corners. A wall or floor rarely divides exactly into whole tiles, so the tiles along the perimeter are cut, and the offcut is usually too small to use elsewhere. Diagonal layouts, borders and patterns create more waste than a simple grid. Ten per cent is a sensible default for a plain square layout; fifteen to twenty per cent is safer for large-format tiles, diagonal patterns or a novice doing the job. Large tiles deserve particular care. They cover more area each, so a single broken tile costs more, and they need a flatter substrate and wider joints. They also look best with fewer cuts, which often means planning the layout from the centre of the room outward rather than starting at a wall, and that planning changes how many tiles you actually consume. This calculator converts your area into tiles for the size you choose, adds a waste allowance and rounds up. It ignores the joint width, which slightly increases coverage, and assumes a simple layout. Always buy spares from the same batch, since tiles are fired in lots that can differ subtly in shade.

This calculator returns estimates for planning and general information only. It is not engineering, architectural, structural, electrical or code advice, and it cannot replace a qualified professional who has seen the site. Material quantities depend on the actual dimensions, the product you buy and local building codes, so confirm the figures before ordering materials or starting work, and always follow local regulations.