Project Tile Calculator
How to Calculate How Many Tiles You Need
Planning a tiling project for your bathroom, kitchen, or floor requires precise measurements to ensure you purchase enough material without overspending. This Tile Calculator helps you estimate the exact number of tiles required for your project, factoring in room dimensions, tile size, and necessary waste coverage.
1. Measure Your Room Area
To begin, determine the total square footage of the surface you intend to tile. For rectangular rooms, simply multiply the length by the width (in feet). For complex room shapes (L-shaped or multiple alcoves), break the room down into smaller rectangles, calculate the area for each, and add them together.
2. Determine Tile Size
Tiles come in various standard sizes, such as 12×12, 12×24, or 6×6 inches. The size of the tile directly impacts how many you will need. Larger tiles cover more area per piece but may result in more wastage due to cuts at the edges of the room.
3. Factor in Overage for Waste and Cuts
One of the most critical steps in calculating tile is adding an overage percentage. You should never buy exactly the amount of square footage measured because:
- Cuts and Breakage: Tiles cut to fit edges often cannot be reused.
- Pattern Matching: Patterned tiles require alignment, which increases waste.
- Future Repairs: It is wise to keep a box of spare tiles for future cracked tile replacements.
Recommended Waste Percentages:
- 10%: Standard for simple, square rooms with straight-lay patterns.
- 15%: For rooms with obstacles (islands, toilets) or brick-joint patterns.
- 20%+: For diagonal layouts (diamond patterns) which generate significantly more waste at the perimeter.
Example Calculation
If you have a room that is 10 feet by 12 feet (120 sq. ft.) and you are using 12″ x 12″ tiles:
- Room Area: 120 sq. ft.
- Tile Area: 1 sq. ft. per tile.
- Raw Count: 120 tiles.
- Add 10% Waste: 120 x 1.10 = 132 tiles.
By using the calculator above, you can instantly adjust for different tile sizes and waste factors to get an accurate purchase list for your renovation.