Tile Calculator
Enter your space and tile size and we’ll estimate how many tiles — or boxes — to buy.
How to measure for tile
Measure the full surface — for floors, wall to wall; for backsplashes and showers, each rectangular section separately, then add them together.
How we calculated it
We convert your surface to square inches, divide by the area of a single tile to get the base count, then add your waste allowance for cuts and breakage. If you know how many tiles come in a box, we round up to whole boxes.
Things that can change your result
- Every edge, corner, and outlet means a cut — small or complex rooms waste proportionally more.
- Diagonal and offset patterns increase waste to 15% or more.
- Large-format tiles mean fewer tiles but more waste per broken or miscut piece.
Buying tips
- Buy from one batch — tile shades vary between production lots.
- Keep leftover tiles: a box in the attic beats hunting discontinued tile after a crack.
- Grout lines don’t reduce the tile count meaningfully — treat the difference as bonus margin.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the exact count with no cuts allowance.
- Mixing dye lots.
- Forgetting trim, edge, and border pieces are ordered separately.
Frequently asked questions
How many 12×12 tiles do I need for 80 square feet?
A 12×12 tile covers exactly one square foot, so 80 tiles — 88 with a 10% cutting allowance.
What waste percentage for tile?
10% is standard for straight layouts. Use 15% for diagonal patterns, small intricate spaces, or brittle tile.
Do grout lines change how many tiles I need?
Barely — grout gaps slightly reduce coverage per tile, and the difference is well inside the waste allowance.