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FREE CALCULATOR
Tile Quantity Calculator
Find out how many tiles you need for a floor or a wall. Enter the area, the tile size and the grout joint, and get the tiles to buy with extra for waste, plus the number of boxes.
Enter the size of your floor or wall and your tile size, then press Calculate to see how many tiles to buy.
What Is a Tile Quantity Calculator?
A tile quantity calculator tells you how many tiles to buy for a floor or a wall. You enter the size of the space, the size of one tile and the width of the grout joint, and the calculator shows the exact number of tiles plus the extra tiles you need for cuts and breakage.
Buying the right amount avoids two problems. If you buy too few, you may not find the same tile batch again and the colour can look different. If you buy too many, you waste money. This free tool helps you order with confidence.
How to Use This Tile Calculator
- Choose the units. Use feet and inches, or metres and centimetres.
- Pick room size or total area. For a room, enter length and width. For a wall or an odd shape, enter the total area.
- Enter the tile size. Add the width and length of one tile.
- Add the grout joint. The default is 1/8 inch (3 mm). Enter 0 to ignore grout lines.
- Choose extra for waste. Ten percent is right for most simple layouts.
- Add tiles per box (optional). You will also get the number of boxes to buy.
- Press Calculate. See the tiles to buy and a table for different waste allowances.
How Many Tiles Do You Need?
The method is simple:
- Area = room length x room width.
- Size of one tile = (tile width + grout joint) x (tile length + grout joint).
- Tiles without waste = area / size of one tile, rounded up.
- Tiles to buy = tiles without waste x (1 + waste allowance), rounded up.
Example: a floor of 120 sq ft covered with 12 x 12 inch tiles and 10% extra needs about 132 tiles. If the tiles come in boxes of 10, you buy 14 boxes.
Tiles Needed by Room Size
The table shows the tiles needed with 12 x 12 inch tiles and no grout lines, first with no waste and then with 10% extra.
| Room size | Area | Tiles, no waste | Tiles with 10% extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 5 ft | 25 sq ft | 25 | 28 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 80 sq ft | 80 | 88 |
| 10 x 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 100 | 110 |
| 10 x 12 ft | 120 sq ft | 120 | 132 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 144 | 159 |
| 12 x 15 ft | 180 sq ft | 180 | 198 |
Tiles Needed by Tile Size
Smaller tiles need many more pieces for the same area. The table shows the tiles needed for 100 sq ft, with no grout lines.
| Tile size | Tiles, no waste | Tiles with 10% extra |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 in | 900 | 990 |
| 6 x 6 in | 400 | 440 |
| 8 x 8 in | 225 | 248 |
| 12 x 12 in | 100 | 110 |
| 12 x 24 in | 50 | 55 |
| 18 x 18 in | 45 | 49 |
| 24 x 24 in | 25 | 28 |
Tile Buying Tips
- Plan for waste. Use 5 to 10% for straight layouts, 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns and 20% for complex designs.
- Keep spare tiles. Store a few extra tiles for future repairs. Discontinued tiles are hard to match.
- Buy from one batch. Colour and size can change slightly between production batches. Check the batch number on every box.
- Measure twice. For L-shaped rooms, split the room into rectangles and add the areas together.
- Subtract big openings. When tiling walls, take away large windows and doors before you enter the area.
- Check the box size. Boxes are sold by area, not by tile count. Confirm how many tiles are in each box.
When You May Need More Tiles
Your real tile count can be higher than the calculator result when:
- The room has many corners, pipes or cabinets that need extra cuts
- You use a diagonal, herringbone or other pattern
- The tiles are large format and every cut wastes a lot of material
- The walls or floor are not square
- Some tiles are likely to break, such as natural stone or thin porcelain
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tiles do I need for 100 sq ft?
With 12 x 12 inch tiles and no grout lines you need 100 tiles. Adding 10% for waste brings it to 110 tiles. Smaller or larger tiles change this number, so use the calculator for your tile size.
How much extra tile should I buy?
Ten percent extra is a safe amount for most rooms. Use 15% for diagonal layouts and 20% for complex patterns or rooms with many cuts.
How many 12 x 12 tiles do I need for a 10 x 10 room?
A 10 x 10 ft room has 100 sq ft, so it needs 100 tiles without waste and about 110 tiles with 10% extra.
Does the grout joint change the number of tiles?
Yes, slightly. A wider joint means each tile covers a little more area, so you need fewer tiles. The effect is small with thin joints, but it grows with small tiles and wide joints.
Can I use this calculator for walls and backsplashes?
Yes. Switch to Total area, multiply the width of the wall by its height and subtract windows and doors. Then enter the tile size and the waste allowance.
How many boxes of tile should I buy?
Enter the number of tiles per box in the calculator and it shows the boxes to buy. Always round up to full boxes, because you cannot buy part of a box.
Does the calculator work in metres?
Yes. Choose metres and centimetres. Enter the room in metres, the tile in centimetres and the grout joint in millimetres.
Note: This calculator gives an estimate. Measure your space carefully and ask your tile supplier or installer to confirm the final quantity before you order.