Tile Calculator
Enter the area you are tiling and the size of the tile to get the number of tiles and boxes to buy — with a waste allowance built in, because cuts and breakage are guaranteed.
Your numbers
Result
- Area incl. wastesq ft
- 132
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Area with 10% waste | 132.0 sq ft |
| Area per tile | 1.000 sq ft |
| Tiles needed | 132 |
| Boxes (10 per box) | 14 |
How the count works
Each tile covers width × height ÷ 144 square feet (144 square inches make a square foot), so a 12 × 12 in tile is exactly 1 sq ft. Divide the area (plus waste) by the tile area, and round up: 120 sq ft with 10% waste and 1 sq ft tiles needs 132 tiles. Boxes are the tiles divided by the count per box, rounded up.
Why the waste allowance matters
You never use 100% of the tiles. Cuts at the edges, breakage, and future repairs all eat into the count. 10% is a sensible default for a straight layout; go to 15–20% for a diagonal or herringbone pattern, or a room with lots of corners and obstacles.
Buy from the same batch
Tile color varies slightly between production runs (the "dye lot" or batch number on the box). Buy all your tile — including the waste overage — at once, from the same batch, so the color matches. Keeping a spare box after the job makes future repairs invisible.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Tile coverage (tile area = width × height ÷ 144 sq ft)
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