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Tile Calculator
Enter the area, your tile size and the box coverage from the store label. This returns the tile and box count with waste, plus how much thinset to buy.
How the tile calculation works
- Measure the floor or wall and multiply length by width for square feet.
- Check your tile size in inches and convert to square feet per tile.
- Add waste — 10 percent for a straight lay, 15 percent for diagonal or a pattern.
- Divide the total area by the coverage printed on the box for the box count.
- Buy all boxes in one go. Dye lots vary and a later batch may not match.
The formula
Tiles = Area × (1 + waste) ÷ tile area. Boxes = Area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per box.
Buying materials?
Compare prices before you order:
- Floor tile paste your link here
- Thinset mortar paste your link here
- Tile spacers paste your link here
Common questions
How much extra tile should I buy?
Ten percent for a standard straight layout and 15 percent for diagonal, herringbone or other patterns. Keep the spares — tiles are discontinued constantly and a single cracked tile years later is otherwise impossible to match.
How many tiles are in a box?
It varies by manufacturer and size. Boxes are labelled by coverage in square feet, not tile count, so always use the ft² figure rather than counting tiles.
How much thinset do I need?
A 50 lb bag covers roughly 95 ft² with a 1/4 in notch trowel. Larger tiles and deeper notches use more. This calculator allows for that automatically.
Do floor and wall tiles need different adhesives?
Yes. Floors need a modified thinset rated for foot traffic; walls can often use a lighter mastic except in wet areas. Showers and wet rooms need a waterproof membrane behind the tile regardless.
Should I tile under cabinets and appliances?
Tile the whole floor before cabinets go in where you can. It avoids awkward cuts, and if the layout changes later the floor is already complete underneath.