Running short of tiles near the end of a job is a real problem, because a new box may come from a different batch with a slightly different shade. This tile calculator works out your area, the size of each tile, and the extra you need for cuts and breakage based on your layout pattern.
Tile Calculator
Work out how many tiles your floor or wall needs, with a sensible waste allowance for cuts and breakage.
Assumptions: grout lines are ignored because they change the count very little at room scale. Always round up and keep a few spare tiles from the same batch for future repairs. Check the box coverage printed by your tile supplier, as it varies by brand.
How it works
- Measure the length and width of the floor or wall and enter them in feet or metres.
- Pick a common tile size from the presets, or enter a custom tile size.
- Choose your layout, straight, diagonal or herringbone, because angled patterns waste more tiles on cuts.
- Add the coverage per box from your supplier if you want the answer in boxes as well as tiles.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra should I allow for waste?
Allow about 10 percent for a straight layout, 15 percent for diagonal, and up to 20 percent for herringbone. Rooms with many corners, stairs or alcoves also waste more, so round up rather than down.
Does the grout line change the count?
Only slightly. Thick grout lines mean each tile covers a tiny bit more area, but the difference is small next to the waste allowance, so this calculator leaves grout out and keeps the estimate safe.
Why keep spare tiles after the job?
A cracked tile years later is easy to fix if you have spares from the same batch. New boxes can vary in shade, so keeping a few leftovers in the garage is cheap insurance.