Construction desk
Tile Calculator
Estimate tile pieces and boxes for a rectangular surface.
Tile Calculator: Estimate how many individual tiles and full boxes cover a rectangular floor or wall with an allowance for cuts and breakage. Surface dimensions are entered in feet, while tile dimensions are in inches. The calculation divides area by tile face area, rounds the pieces upwards, then rounds again for the box quantity. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Calculators
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Tiles to buy (estimate)
138 tiles
- Surface area (estimate)
- 120 sq ft
- Boxes to buy (estimate)
- 14 boxes
Tiles = ceiling(area × (1 + waste) ÷ tile area)- Every result is an estimate; verify surface preparation, measurements, and local practices before ordering.
- Allow for the stated waste and product-coverage assumptions; openings are deducted only where requested.
- Compaction, settling, substrate condition, cuts, and installation method can change actual quantities.
Formula and worked example
Tiles = ceiling(area × (1 + waste) ÷ tile area)
A worked example with sample values:
| Inputs | |
|---|---|
| Surface length | 12 ft |
| Surface width | 10 ft |
| Tile length | 12 in |
| Tile width | 12 in |
| Waste allowance | 15% |
| Tiles per box | 10 tiles |
| Results | |
|---|---|
| Surface area | 120 sq ft |
| Tiles to buy (estimate) | 138 tiles |
| Boxes to buy (estimate) | 14 boxes |
Tile pieces before box rounding
Let L and W be surface dimensions in feet, a and b tile dimensions in inches, w waste in percent and q whole tiles per box. Surface A = L × W ft²; tile face T = a × b ÷ 144 ft². Pieces = ceiling(A × (1 + w ÷ 100) ÷ T). Boxes = ceiling(pieces ÷ q).
A 12 ft × 10 ft surface is 120 ft². Example 12 in × 12 in tiles each cover 144 ÷ 144 = 1 ft². With illustrative 15% waste, the area requirement becomes 138 ft², so the calculator returns 138 tiles. At 10 tiles per box, 138 ÷ 10 = 13.8 and the order is 14 boxes containing 140 tiles.
Face dimensions and layout boundaries
NIST's dimensional factors (https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors/nist-guide-si-appendix-b8) support converting inches and feet before comparing areas; 1 ft² equals 0.09290304 m². For millimetre tile measurements, divide by 25.4 to enter inches. Do not enter centimetres directly into the inch fields.
For mixed-size mosaics or patterned packs, package coverage may be more useful than the face of one small piece. This estimate assumes identical rectangular tiles and uniform coverage. Adhesive, grout, trims and movement joints require separate planning; check the product label for coverage and spacing requirements of those materials.
How to use it
- Enter measurements using the units shown beside each field.
- Choose the product coverage and allowances for your measured job.
- Calculate, then compare the rounded quantity with your layout and product label.
Privacy & limitations
Inputs and calculations stay in your browser. No values are uploaded.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this tile count include grout-joint spacing?
No. It uses tile face area without grout width, so it does not draw a modular layout. Nominal tile sizes can also differ from actual faces. Check the product label and dry-layout dimensions; do not reduce tile dimensions to represent joints.
How much extra tile do diagonal cuts or patterns need?
Use a layout-specific allowance based on cuts, breakage, pattern matching and future replacements. The sample 15% is an input for the worked calculation, not a rule for all tile installations. A complex pattern may require counting each tile size or colour separately.
Can leftover cut tiles always be reused on the opposite edge?
Not necessarily. The remaining piece may be too short, have the wrong cut direction or fail to match the pattern. Area division cannot decide whether offcuts fit. Check perimeter rows and edge pieces on a drawing before treating the rounded result as a final order.
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<p style="margin:4px 0 16px;font-size:13px"><a href="https://toea.com/tile-calculator">Tile Calculator</a> · TOEA</p>
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