Measure the area you want to tile, then enter the real size of one tile and the number in each box. Add a waste allowance that suits your layout rather than ordering the exact floor area.
Keep the result with your tile sample. Before you buy, confirm the box coverage, batch number and return policy with the supplier.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the full area, including under appliances and into doorways you plan to tile.
- Enter the exact tile dimensions from the box, not the shelf-edge description.
- Set the waste allowance for your layout — 10 percent straight, more for diagonal or patterned work.
- Round up to whole boxes, and keep the leftovers: a discontinued tile makes future repairs painful without them.
How tile quantities are calculated
Tiles needed = (area x (1 + waste)) / area of one tile. Tile area in square feet is (length in inches x width in inches) / 144. Boxes = tiles / tiles per box, always rounded up because stores sell whole boxes.
A 10 ft x 10 ft bathroom floor is 100 sq ft. With 12x12 inch tiles each covering exactly 1 sq ft, plus 10 percent waste, you need 110 tiles. At 10 tiles per box, that is exactly 11 boxes.
A few things worth checking
- Using nominal tile size instead of the real size printed on the box — a '12 inch' tile may be 11.75 inches.
- Forgetting the waste allowance, or using a straight-layout allowance for a herringbone floor.
- Not checking batch numbers on boxes; tiles vary slightly in shade between production runs.
Your questions, answered
How many tiles do I need per square foot?
Ignoring joints and cuts, four 6x6 inch tiles, one 12x12 inch tile or a quarter of a 24x24 inch tile make one square foot. Enter the actual tile dimensions printed for your product so the tool can convert the area.
How much extra tile should I buy?
The calculator starts with a 10 percent waste allowance, which you can change. That is an input assumption, not a guarantee for every layout. Check cuts, pattern, room shape and any spare tiles you want before setting the allowance.
How do I include closets or extra areas?
Calculate each rectangular area you plan to tile. Keep the unrounded area totals together and compare them with your layout and box coverage before buying. The tool does not decide which spaces should be tiled.
Does grout line width change this tile count?
The tile calculator has no grout-width input and uses tile face area only. It does not model the complete layout or joint pattern. Check those details separately; do not assume the chosen waste allowance will cover every difference.
How Much Extra Tile Should You Buy?
A small allowance makes room for cuts, breakages and the spare tile you will be glad to have later.