Tile Calculator

Calculate how many tiles you need for a floor or wall using your surface measurements and tile size. Include a waste allowance, then add optional box details and pricing to estimate your tile purchase.

Surface Area

Choose your unit before entering measurements. Use it for every surface. Changing units does not convert numbers already entered.

Add separate floors, walls or non-overlapping rectangular sections using the same tile size. For walls, enter the horizontal length and vertical height.

Measured surface area —
Tile Size & Waste

Enter the dimensions of one square or rectangular tile. Surface and tile measurements can use different units. Changing the tile unit does not convert existing dimensions.

The starting allowance is 10%. Adjust it for cuts, breakage and your installer’s advice. Set it to 0 if your entered area already includes waste.

Boxes & Material Cost Optional

Enter the number of tiles printed on the box to calculate whole boxes to buy.

Tiles per box is required for a box price. Currency labels your estimate; it does not convert prices.

QUICK START

How to Use the Tile Calculator

Enter the surface area you plan to tile, one tile’s dimensions and your waste allowance. Add box details or pricing if you need a purchase quantity or material cost estimate.

  1. Enter your surface area

    Choose “Length and width”, select your surface measurement unit and enter the dimensions. For a wall, use its horizontal length and vertical height. Add separate rectangular surfaces as needed. If your area already excludes doors, windows or other untiled sections, choose “I know the total area” and enter that net area with its area unit.

  2. Add your tile size and waste allowance

    Select the tile measurement unit and enter the length and width of one square or rectangular tile. Surface and tile units can differ. The waste allowance starts at 10%; adjust it for cuts, breakage and your installer’s guidance. Set it to 0 if your entered surface area already includes waste.

  3. Include boxes and prices if needed

    Enter the number of tiles per box shown on the packaging to estimate whole boxes. For material cost, enter a price per tile or per box and select the currency. A price per box requires the tiles per box. Selecting a currency labels the estimate without converting your price.

  4. Calculate and review your purchase

    Select “Calculate Tiles” to see the tile count including waste, rounded up to a whole tile. When tiles per box is entered, the calculator rounds up to whole boxes. A price per tile uses all tiles in those boxes; a price per box uses the box count. Installation and other project costs are additional.

Keep your estimate accurate: use one tile size per calculation and count each surface once. Choose your units before entering measurements; changing a unit does not convert existing numbers. This is an area-based estimate and does not calculate grout spacing or an exact cutting layout. After editing an input, select “Calculate Tiles” again, or use “Clear All” to start over.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Tile Calculation Example

See how surface area and tile size determine the tile count, then how waste and whole boxes affect your purchase quantity and material cost.

Example measurements

Surface length
12 ft
Surface width
10 ft
Tile size
12 × 12 in
Waste allowance
10%
Tiles per box
10
Example price
USD 25.00 / box

Select Feet (ft) for the surface and Inches (in) for the tile. The calculator uses consistent units internally to calculate coverage. Changing a unit selection does not convert the numbers already entered.

  1. Find the surface area

    Length × width = 12 × 10 = 120 ft².

  2. Calculate coverage per tile

    A 12 × 12-inch tile measures 1 × 1 foot, covering 1 ft². Before adding waste, 120 ÷ 1 = 120 tiles.

  3. Add the waste allowance

    Target coverage = 120 × (1 + 10 ÷ 100) = 132 ft². Divide by 1 ft² per tile to get 132 tiles including waste. This result is already a whole number, so no tile-count rounding is needed.

  4. Round up to whole boxes

    132 ÷ 10 = 13.2 boxes → buy 14 boxes. Purchased quantity = 14 × 10 = 140 tiles.

  5. Estimate the tile material cost

    Whole boxes × price per box = 14 × USD 25.00 = USD 350.00.

Why buy 140 tiles instead of 132? The additional 8 tiles come from rounding up to whole boxes, after the 10% waste allowance has already been included. This is an area-based estimate; grout joint spacing and an exact cutting layout are not calculated. The price is illustrative. Labor, adhesive, grout, delivery and tax are additional.

PLAN YOUR PURCHASE

Tile Calculator: Before You Buy

Use your tile estimate as a starting point, then check these product and installation details before ordering.

TILE SIZE

Confirm the actual tile dimensions

Check the manufacturer’s dimensions for your chosen tile. The advertised size may differ from the actual measurements. This explanation of nominal and actual tile sizes shows why that distinction matters. For mosaic sheets, confirm the stated coverage per sheet with your supplier.

This calculator uses one square or rectangular tile’s length and width. It does not calculate mosaic sheet layouts.
INSTALLATION

Check the layout and grout joints

Tile direction, grout joint width and the starting point affect edge cuts and the finished layout. Diagonal patterns, borders and mixed tile sizes need a separate layout plan. Confirm the recommended joint width and installation method for your chosen tile with the manufacturer or installer.

The estimate uses tile area; it does not calculate grout spacing or the exact number of cut pieces.
PRODUCT MATCH

Check the batch and keep spare tiles

Before installation, compare the product codes and any batch, shade or caliber labels on the boxes. Ask your supplier which labels should match for your chosen product. Decide whether to keep spare tiles for future repairs, especially if matching stock may be difficult to find later.

Whole-box rounding may provide extras. Check the “Tiles to purchase” result before adding more repair stock.
PROJECT COST

Allow for preparation and installation

Your tile price is only part of the project budget. Depending on the surface, you may also need leveling, waterproofing, adhesive, grout, trims or removal of existing finishes, plus installation labor. Include delivery and tax when planning the total budget.

The calculator estimates tile material cost only. Compare quotes using the same surfaces, materials and installation scope.

CALCULATOR GUIDANCE

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about tile measurements, supported surfaces and how to interpret your purchase estimate.

Can I use this tile calculator for floors and walls?

Yes. Enter length and width for a floor, or horizontal length and height for a wall. You can combine surfaces that use the same tile size. If different areas need different tile sizes, calculate each group separately. The estimate does not determine whether a tile is suitable for a floor, wall or wet area.

How do I subtract doors, windows or areas I will not tile?

Calculate the full surface area, then subtract openings or sections that will not receive tiles. For rectangular walls with doors and windows, the Wall Area Calculator can calculate that net area. Choose “I know the total area” here and enter the result with its matching area unit. Add any window reveals or other returns you plan to tile separately. This tile calculator does not automatically deduct openings.

What if my room or tiled surface is irregular?

Divide an L-shaped surface into rectangles that do not overlap and add them as separate surfaces. For curves, triangles or other shapes, work out the actual area first, then enter the total using “I know the total area”. Do not use the full bounding rectangle if it includes sections you will not tile. Check the actual boundaries and cutting layout before ordering.

Can I enter surface measurements in feet and tile sizes in centimeters?

Yes. Surface measurements and tile dimensions have separate unit selectors. The calculator uses consistent units internally to compare their areas. Use the selected surface unit for every surface and the selected tile unit for both tile dimensions. Changing a selector does not convert the numbers already entered, so choose your units before entering measurements.

Does the tile count include grout joint spacing?

No. The estimate divides the surface area, including your waste allowance, by the area of one tile. It does not model grout joints, tile placement or reuse of offcuts. Review the tiling and grout joint guidance alongside your manufacturer’s instructions. Confirm the final quantity against your installation layout, especially for borders, diagonal patterns or large tiles in small spaces.

Can I calculate mosaic sheets or hexagonal tiles?

This tool uses the length and width of one square or rectangular tile. Hexagonal tiles, irregular mosaic sheets and mixed-size patterns need a different coverage calculation. If the packaging gives coverage per box, divide your area including waste by that coverage and round up to whole boxes. Confirm the product’s usable coverage and layout requirements with your supplier.

Why are “tiles to purchase” higher than “tiles needed”?

When you enter tiles per box, the calculator rounds the box count up. For example, 132 required tiles with 10 tiles per box means buying 14 boxes containing 140 tiles. These additional 8 tiles come from whole-box purchasing; the waste allowance is already included in the required tile count. Without box details, the purchase quantity equals the required tile count.

Can I use a price per square foot or square meter?

The tile calculator accepts a price per tile or per box. If your supplier quotes by square foot or square meter, use the Flooring Calculator for that pricing basis. Add the packaging coverage if you need a whole-box purchase estimate. Keep the selected currency consistent with your entered price; neither tool applies currency exchange rates.

READY TO PLAN?

Get Your Tile Estimate

Enter your surface measurements, tile size and waste allowance to estimate the tiles you need. Add optional box details and pricing to plan your purchase.

Use the Tile Calculator