Calculate the exact number of tiles, boxes, and cost for your flooring or wall project with grout and waste factors.
Quick Answer:Enter your room dimensions and tile size to instantly see how many tiles you need, including waste, grout, and total cost.
Tiles Needed (with waste)
Calculating... tiles total
Room Area
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Tiles (no waste)
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Boxes Needed (10/box)
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Total Cost
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Always buy all your tiles from the same production lot to ensure color consistency. When calculating, account for the tile layout pattern: straight lay wastes less (5-10%) than diagonal (15%) or herringbone (15-20%). For larger format tiles (24x24+), expect higher breakage during cutting. Store 2-3 extra tiles in a dry place for future repairs, as matching discontinued tiles can be impossible.
Measure your room's length and width in feet to get the total square footage. Divide the room area by the area of one tile (converted to square feet). Add 10% for waste due to cuts, breakage, and pattern matching. For example, a 10x12 ft room (120 sq ft) with 12x12 inch tiles needs 120 tiles, plus 12 for waste = 132 tiles.
A standard waste factor is 10% for straightforward rectangular rooms. Use 15% for diagonal patterns or rooms with many obstacles (columns, alcoves). For complex mosaic patterns, budget 20% extra. Always keep a few spare tiles for future repairs, as tile lots can vary in shade between production batches.
Yes, grout lines slightly reduce the number of tiles needed because each tile effectively covers a larger area when you include its surrounding grout. For small tiles with wide grout lines (e.g., 4-inch tiles with 1/4-inch grout), the difference can be significant. For large tiles with thin grout, the effect is minimal. This calculator accounts for grout width in its calculations.