Tile Calculator
Estimate the total number of tiles necessary to cover a floor, wall, or any other surface. Account for mortar gaps and industry-standard wastage to figure out exactly how many boxes to buy.
Tile Dimensions
Area to Cover
Purchasing & Box Info
Results
Measuring Tile Gaps
When installing tiles, you cannot place them perfectly flush against each other. You must leave a small gap for grout or mortar.
Even a small 1/8 inch (0.125") gap adds up significantly over a large room. Our calculator factors in the mortar joint to give you the precise "effective area" of each tile, preventing you from overbuying.
Why Factor Wastage?
Rooms are rarely perfect grids. You will inevitably need to cut tiles to fit around edges, corners, and fixtures (like toilets or cabinets).
Standard Room: Add 10% wastage
Complex Room (many corners): Add 15%
Diagonal Tile Pattern: Add 20%
Tile Installation Guide
Tile Size
Tile size can range anywhere from smaller mosaics that are 3/8", to 24" × 48" slab tiles and everything in between. Square sizes (same width and length) are the most popular, accessible, and easiest to install. Large tile sizes can make smaller rooms appear bigger, as well as more open and clean because there are fewer grout lines. However, installing larger tiles results in more wastage, while using smaller tiles can help add texture to a room.
Material Types
There are a number of different classifications of tiles, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, quarry, and stone. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most cost efficient, and come in a variety of different styles. Glass tiles, while not appropriate for flooring because they crack under pressure, are visually unique and interesting; they are most commonly used for kitchen and bathroom backsplashes. Quarry tiles have rough surfaces that are good for floors that require grip, and are commonly used outdoors and in restaurant kitchens. Stone tiles include marble and granite, which provide unique and natural stone patterns, textures, and colors that are difficult to achieve using ceramics.
Layout Patterns
There are many different patterns used when installing tiles. The most common pattern used is a linear grid, with square or rectangular tiles, or a pattern involving angled squares or rectangles that form a typical diamond shape.
- Running Bond: Involve offset rows or columns of tiles (like those used with brick walls), usually with a 2:1 length to edge ratio. Running bonds generally use about 10% more material.
- Herringbone: Involve aligning tiles in angled patterns, usually 45 or 90 degrees. Similar to running bond layouts, herringbone layouts use more material than linear layouts.