Introduction
Figuring out how many tiles you need for a floor, wall, or backsplash can be tricky. Buy too few and your project stalls. Buy too many and you waste money. This tile calculator takes the guesswork out of your next tiling project by giving you exact numbers in seconds.
Simply enter your room dimensions (or total area), tile size, grout gap, and waste factor, and the calculator does the rest. It tells you the total number of tiles needed, how many boxes to buy, and the estimated cost. You can add up to six separate areas at once, which is perfect if you're tiling multiple rooms or spaces in one order. The built-in waste factor accounts for cuts, breakage, and pattern matching so you always have enough material on hand.
Whether you're a homeowner planning a DIY tile installation or a contractor putting together a materials list, this free tile calculator helps you plan smarter, order right, and stay on budget.
How to use our Tile Calculator
Enter your room dimensions and tile size to find out how many tiles you need, how many boxes to buy, and what the total cost will be.
Room / Area Dimensions: Enter the length and width of the room or area you want to tile. You can choose your unit of measurement (feet, inches, meters, centimeters, or yards). If you already know the total square footage, select "Enter Total Area" instead. You can add up to 6 separate areas if you are tiling more than one room, and give each area a label like "Kitchen" or "Bathroom." If you need help determining your room's area first, our square footage calculator can help.
Tile Size: Enter the length and width of a single tile. The default is set to 12 inches by 12 inches. You can change the unit to feet, meters, centimeters, or yards to match how your tile size is listed.
Grout Gap / Spacing: Enter the size of the gap between each tile. This is the space that gets filled with grout. Most tile jobs use a gap between 1/16 inch and 1/4 inch. The default is set to 1/8 inch.
Waste Factor: Enter the percentage of extra tiles you want to account for cuts, breaks, and mistakes. A 10% waste factor works well for standard straight layouts. Use 15% or more if you are doing a diagonal or pattern layout.
Box Size (Optional): Enter how many tiles come in each box. If you know the square feet per box instead, enter that value and it will override the tiles-per-box number. This helps the calculator tell you how many boxes to purchase.
Cost Estimation (Optional): Choose whether your price is per tile, per box, or per square foot, then enter the dollar amount. This lets the calculator give you a total cost estimate for your project.
Click Calculate to see your results, which include total area in square feet, tiles needed with and without waste, number of boxes to buy, estimated cost, and a per-area breakdown if you entered more than one room. Click Reset to clear all fields and start over.
How to Calculate Tiles for Your Flooring Project
A tile calculator helps you figure out exactly how many tiles you need to cover a floor, wall, or any flat surface. Instead of guessing at the store and buying too many or too few tiles, you can enter your room size and tile size to get an accurate count. This saves you time, money, and extra trips to the home improvement store.
How Tile Calculations Work
The basic math behind tile estimation is simple: divide the total area of your room by the area of a single tile. For example, if your room is 100 square feet and each tile covers 1 square foot (12" × 12"), you need 100 tiles. When tiles are smaller, like 6" × 6", each one covers only 0.25 square feet, so you would need 400 tiles to cover that same room.
Why Grout Gaps Matter
Tiles are not placed edge to edge. There is always a small space between them called a grout gap or grout joint. This gap is usually between 1/16 inch and 1/4 inch wide. The grout gap makes each tile take up slightly more space than the tile itself, which means you need fewer tiles overall. A tile calculator accounts for this by adding the grout spacing to each tile's dimensions before dividing into the total area.
Understanding the Waste Factor
You should always buy more tiles than the exact number you need. During installation, tiles get cut along walls, around doorways, and near obstacles. Some cuts don't work out, and tiles can crack or break. The waste factor is the extra percentage of tiles you buy to cover these losses. Here are general guidelines:
- 10% waste — Standard straight-lay installations in simple rectangular rooms
- 15% waste — Diagonal layouts, herringbone patterns, or rooms with many corners and cutouts
- 20% or more — Complex patterns, large-format tiles in small rooms, or natural stone that may have defects
It is also smart to keep a few spare tiles after the job is done. If a tile cracks years later, matching the exact color and batch can be very hard.
Common Tile Sizes
Tiles come in many standard sizes. Knowing the most popular ones can help you plan your project:
- 12" × 12" — One of the most common floor tile sizes, easy to install
- 6" × 6" — Often used for walls and backsplashes
- 12" × 24" — A popular rectangular format that makes rooms look larger
- 18" × 18" — Common for larger floors with fewer grout lines
- 24" × 24" — Large-format tile used in open spaces
- 3" × 6" — The classic subway tile size for walls
Tiles Per Box and Buying in Boxes
Tiles are sold in boxes, not individually. Each box contains a set number of tiles and covers a certain number of square feet. When you calculate your total tiles needed, you should round up to the next full box. For example, if you need 159 tiles and each box holds 10, you need 16 boxes — even though 15 boxes only leaves you 9 tiles short. That partial box must be purchased as a full box.
Calculating Multiple Areas
Many tiling projects cover more than one room or section. A kitchen, hallway, and bathroom might all get the same tile. Instead of running separate calculations for each space, you can add up all the areas together. Just measure each room's length and width, calculate each area, and then add them for a combined total before figuring out your tile count. Our square footage calculator is a handy companion tool for measuring irregularly shaped spaces.
Tips for Accurate Measurements
Always measure your room at its longest and widest points. If a room has an L-shape or an irregular layout, break it into smaller rectangles, measure each one, and add them together. Use a tape measure and write your numbers down. Measure twice to avoid mistakes. For the most accurate results, measure in inches or feet and inches rather than rounding to the nearest foot.
Estimating Tile Costs
Tile prices vary widely based on material, brand, and style. Ceramic tiles can cost as little as $1 to $3 per square foot, while porcelain runs $3 to $10 per square foot. Natural stone tiles like marble or travertine can cost $5 to $20 or more per square foot. When budgeting, remember to include the cost of extra tiles for waste, plus materials like thinset mortar, grout, spacers, and any underlayment you may need.
Related Flooring and Construction Calculators
If you're working on a larger renovation project, you may find these other calculators helpful. Our flooring calculator covers hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and other non-tile flooring materials. Planning to build up a subfloor or pour a new slab? Use the concrete calculator to estimate your pour. If your project includes finishing walls before tiling, the drywall calculator can help you figure out sheet counts. For outdoor tiling or patio projects, our paver calculator handles brick and stone pavers, and the sand calculator can estimate the sand base you'll need underneath. If you're also working on landscaping around the house, tools like the gravel calculator, mulch calculator, and topsoil calculator are all available to keep your project on track.