Tile Calculator
Find out exactly how many tiles to buy for any floor or wall — with a cutting and breakage allowance included, so you do not run short mid-job.
Buying tiles without a calculation is how jobs stall: one box short, the batch is gone, and the new batch is a shade different. This calculator works from the two measurements that matter — the area to cover and the size of one tile — then adds a realistic allowance for cuts and breakages.
It works in feet and inches for the US, and in metres and millimetres for the UK and Australia. Enter your own prices if you want a cost estimate; the calculator never invents a price for you.
Your results
Enter your measurements and press Calculate.
Quantities are rounded up to whole tiles, planks, boxes or bags, after the wastage allowance. Cost appears only when you enter a price.
Formula
All lengths are converted to a single unit before the calculation: 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m², 1 yd² = 9 ft². Material quantities are rounded up — you cannot buy part of a tile, plank or bag.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the room length and width at the longest points, in feet or metres.
- Measure one tile (length × width) in inches or millimetres.
- Set the wastage allowance — 10% for a straight layout, 15% for diagonal.
- Add tiles per box and your price to get boxes and cost.
Worked example
| Room | 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 ft² |
|---|---|
| Tile | 12 in × 12 in = 1 ft² per tile |
| Raw tiles | 120 ÷ 1 = 120 tiles |
| With 10% wastage | 120 × 1.10 = 132 tiles |
| Boxes (10 per box) | ⌈132 ÷ 10⌉ = 14 boxes |
| Cost at $2 per tile | 132 × $2 = $264 |
Check it by hand: every step above uses the formula in the box. If your numbers match the example inputs but the calculator gives a different answer, please report it via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How much wastage should I allow for tiles?
Allow 10% for a standard straight layout. Use 15% for diagonal patterns, herringbone, rooms with many corners, or large-format tiles that need more cuts. It is far cheaper to return a spare box than to find your batch is sold out mid-job.
Should I count the area under fixed units?
No. Measure only the area that will actually be tiled. For a bathroom floor, exclude the footprint of a bath or shower tray that sits on the floor; for walls, exclude large windows and doors, or enter them as a deduction in the shower tile calculator.
Why are tiles rounded up?
You cannot buy part of a tile. Every quantity here is rounded up to the next whole tile or box, after the wastage allowance is applied — never before, so the allowance itself is not rounded away.
Does this calculator include grout and adhesive?
No — this page covers tiles only. Use the grout calculator for grout, and ask your tile supplier for adhesive coverage (usually given in m² per bag) for the adhesive you choose.
Related calculators
Estimates only. Results are for planning. Measure twice, confirm box coverage and tile sizes on the packaging you buy, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. See the disclaimer.