Tile Calculator
Estimate tile quantity for floor or wall projects based on area and tile dimensions.
Estimate tile quantity for floor or wall projects based on area and tile dimensions.
A tile calculator estimates how many individual tiles it takes to cover a floor, wall, or backsplash. The basic idea is to divide the area being tiled by the area of one tile, then add extra for cuts, breakage, and future repairs. For example, a 12×12-inch tile covers exactly 1 square foot, so 100 square feet needs 100 tiles before waste and 110 tiles with a 10% allowance.
Tile size and layout pattern drive the answer. Larger tiles mean fewer pieces but more waste at edges, while small tiles need many more pieces for the same area. A straight grid layout usually needs about 10% extra, diagonal and herringbone patterns often need 15–20% because of the angled cuts at every edge, and very simple open rectangles with few cuts can sometimes get by with 5%. Rooms with many corners, cabinets, or doorways need more cuts and more waste. It is also smart to buy all tile from the same production lot and keep a few spare pieces, since shades can vary between batches and a matching tile may be hard to find years later.
To use this tile calculator, enter the area to tile in square feet, then the tile width and tile height in inches, and choose a waste factor: 10% for a standard lay (the default), 15% for diagonal layouts, or 5% for simple jobs. The tool converts the tile size to square feet, multiplies your area by 1 plus the waste factor, divides by the area of one tile, and rounds up to a whole tile. The result is the estimated number of tiles to buy. If tile is sold by the box, divide by the tiles per box and round up.
10% for straight lay; 15% for diagonal or complex patterns.
Enter the area in square feet. Enter individual tile size in inches.
Results are estimates for planning purposes. Verify with product labels and local requirements before purchasing materials.
Divide total area by the area of one tile. Convert tile dimensions to feet first: 12 in ÷ 12 = 1 ft, so a 12×12 tile covers 1 sq ft. An 18×18 tile covers 2.25 sq ft. A 24×24 tile covers 4 sq ft.
| Tile size | Sq ft per tile | Tiles per 100 sq ft | With 10% waste |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6×6 in | 0.25 sq ft | 400 tiles | 440 |
| 12×12 in | 1.00 sq ft | 100 tiles | 110 |
| 18×18 in | 2.25 sq ft | 45 tiles | 50 |
| 24×24 in | 4.00 sq ft | 25 tiles | 28 |
100 square feet ÷ 1 sq ft per tile = 100 tiles. Add 10% waste: 110 tiles total.
An 18×18 tile covers 2.25 sq ft. 200 ÷ 2.25 = 89 tiles + 10% = 98 tiles. Buy 100.
15–20% for diagonal (45°) or herringbone patterns due to additional angled cuts at every edge.
Yes — seal within 72 hours of installation and annually after. Sealer prevents staining and simplifies cleaning.
PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) measures wear resistance. Floor tiles need PEI 3 or higher. PEI 5 is for high-traffic commercial floors.
A 12×24 tile covers 2 square feet. With 10% waste, 150 × 1.10 = 165 square feet, and 165 ÷ 2 = 82.5, so you need 83 tiles.
A 24×24 tile covers 4 square feet. With 10% waste, 300 × 1.10 = 330 square feet, and 330 ÷ 4 = 82.5, which rounds up to 83 tiles.
No. It uses the tile's nominal size, so grout joints are not added in. Grout lines slightly increase the area each tile covers, which makes the estimate a little conservative, especially with small tiles and wide joints.