This calculator helps you determine the quantity of tiles and tile boxes required for your flooring or wall tiling project. Accurate estimation is crucial to avoid under- or over-purchasing, which can lead to project delays or unnecessary expenses.
How the Calculation Works:
The calculation involves several steps:
Room Area Calculation: The total area of the room is calculated by multiplying its length by its width. For example, a room that is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide has an area of 120 square feet (12 ft * 10 ft).
Tile Area Calculation: The area of a single tile is calculated. Since tile dimensions are usually given in inches, they are converted to square feet. A 12-inch by 12-inch tile is 1 square foot (12 inches = 1 foot). A 6-inch by 24-inch tile would have an area of (0.5 ft * 2 ft) = 1 square foot.
Tiles Needed (Net): The total room area is divided by the area of a single tile to find the minimum number of tiles required, assuming no waste.
Waste Factor Application: Tiling often involves cuts, breakages, and fitting around obstacles. A waste factor (expressed as a percentage) is added to the net tile count to account for these inevitable losses. A common waste factor is 10%. So, if you need 100 tiles, and your waste factor is 10%, you'll need an additional 10 tiles (100 * 0.10), bringing the total to 110 tiles.
Total Tiles Calculation: The net tiles needed plus the calculated waste tiles gives the total number of tiles to purchase.
Number of Boxes: The total number of tiles required is divided by the number of tiles included in each box to determine how many boxes of tiles you need to buy. Since you can only buy whole boxes, the result is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
Key Factors to Consider:
Room Shape: Irregularly shaped rooms or rooms with many corners, alcoves, or columns will generally require a higher waste factor due to more cuts.
Tile Size and Pattern: Larger tiles might mean fewer cuts, but complex patterns (like herringbone) can significantly increase waste.
Tile Type: Some tiles are more prone to breakage during cutting or handling.
Installer Experience: An experienced tiler might be able to minimize waste more effectively.
Future Repairs: It's often recommended to buy at least one extra box to keep for future repairs or replacements, as dye lots can vary between batches.
Use this calculator as a guide, and always consult with your tile supplier or installer if you have specific project concerns.
function calculateTiles() {
var roomLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomLength").value);
var roomWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomWidth").value);
var tileLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("tileLength").value);
var tileWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("tileWidth").value);
var tilesPerBox = parseInt(document.getElementById("tilesPerBox").value);
var wasteFactor = parseFloat(document.getElementById("wasteFactor").value) / 100; // Convert percentage to decimal
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; // Make sure result div is visible
// Input validation
if (isNaN(roomLength) || roomLength <= 0 ||
isNaN(roomWidth) || roomWidth <= 0 ||
isNaN(tileLength) || tileLength <= 0 ||
isNaN(tileWidth) || tileWidth <= 0 ||
isNaN(tilesPerBox) || tilesPerBox <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all dimensions and tiles per box.";
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = "#dc3545"; // Red for error
return;
}
// Calculate room area in square feet
var roomAreaSqFt = roomLength * roomWidth;
// Calculate tile area in square feet
// Convert tile dimensions from inches to feet
var tileLengthFt = tileLength / 12;
var tileWidthFt = tileWidth / 12;
var tileAreaSqFt = tileLengthFt * tileWidthFt;
// Calculate minimum tiles needed (net)
var netTilesNeeded = roomAreaSqFt / tileAreaSqFt;
// Calculate total tiles needed with waste
var wasteTiles = netTilesNeeded * wasteFactor;
var totalTilesNeeded = netTilesNeeded + wasteTiles;
// Calculate number of boxes needed (round up)
var numberOfBoxes = Math.ceil(totalTilesNeeded / tilesPerBox);
// Display the results
resultDiv.innerHTML =
"