Flooring

Tile Calculator

Calculate how many tiles you need for your floor or wall project.

Tile Measurements

Enter your project measurements, then calculate a practical planning estimate.

Project Details

meters
meters
meters
meters

What is this calculator?

A tile calculator helps you estimate how many tiles are needed for your floor or wall project. By inputting room dimensions and tile size, you can accurately determine the number of tiles required, including a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.

How does this calculator work?

This tile calculator first calculates the total floor or wall area. Then it determines the coverage of one tile from its dimensions. The total area is divided by one tile's coverage to get the base tile count. Your selected waste percentage is then added before rounding up to whole tiles.

Formula

Room Area = Room Length × Room Width Tile Area = Tile Length × Tile Width Tiles Required = Ceiling(Room Area ÷ Tile Area) Total Tiles = Tiles Required × (1 + Waste Percentage ÷ 100)

Example Calculation

For a room that is 5 meters long and 4 meters wide with 60×30cm tiles and 5% waste: Room Area = 5 × 4 = 20 sqm. Tile Area = 0.6 × 0.3 = 0.18 sqm. Tiles Required = 20 ÷ 0.18 = 112 tiles. Extra Tiles = 112 × 5% = 6. Total = 118 tiles.

Common Mistakes

  • Not adding sufficient waste allowance
  • Using the wrong tile size
  • Ignoring diagonal cuts and pattern layouts
  • Forgetting to account for grout lines
  • Not buying extra tiles for future repairs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tiles do I need?
The number of tiles needed depends on the room area and tile size. Calculate room length × width to get area, then divide by tile area. Add 5-15% for waste depending on layout complexity.
What waste percentage should I use?
For standard rectangular rooms with straight layouts, 5% waste is usually sufficient. For rooms with irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or complex layouts, increase to 10-15%.
Should I buy extra tiles?
Yes, always keep a few extra tiles from the same batch for future repairs. Tile patterns and colors can change over time, making matching tiles difficult to find later.
Do grout lines affect tile count?
Grout lines don't significantly affect the tile count for most projects. However, wider grout lines may slightly reduce the number of tiles needed, while very narrow grout lines may require more tiles.
How do I calculate for diagonal installation?
Diagonal installation requires more tiles due to additional cutting. Use a 10-15% waste allowance instead of 5%. The calculation remains the same, but more offcuts will be generated.

Tips

Plan Your Layout

Dry-lay tiles before applying adhesive to visualize the pattern and ensure proper alignment. This helps avoid costly mistakes.

Start from the Center

Begin tiling from the center of the room and work outward. This ensures that any cut tiles are placed against the walls where they're less visible.

Use Tile Spacers

Use tile spacers to maintain consistent grout lines. This creates a professional look and makes grouting easier.

Cut Tiles Carefully

Use a wet saw for clean, precise cuts. Measure twice and cut once to minimize waste and ensure a perfect fit.