How to use the tile calculator
- Measure the room length and width. For L-shaped rooms, split the floor into rectangles and run the calculator for each part.
- Enter the tile size as sold, for example 12 × 12 in or 60 × 60 cm.
- Choose a waste allowance (see below).
- If you know how much floor one box covers, enter it to get the number of boxes. This also works for laminate and vinyl plank flooring.
The formula
Area to cover = length × width × (1 + waste %) Tiles = area to cover ÷ area of one tile (rounded up) Boxes = area to cover ÷ coverage per box (rounded up)In US units, one tile's area in square feet is its length × width in inches ÷ 144. In metric, it is length × width in centimeters ÷ 10,000.
How much waste to allow
| Layout | Typical allowance |
|---|---|
| Straight lay, simple room | About 10% |
| Diagonal, herringbone or many corners | About 15% or more |
| Large-format tiles | Often more, because each broken tile is a bigger loss |
Worked example
A 10 × 12 ft kitchen with 12 × 12 in tiles and 10% waste:
- Floor area: 10 × 12 = 120 sq ft. With waste: 132 sq ft.
- Each tile covers 12 × 12 ÷ 144 = 1 sq ft, so you need 132 tiles.
- If a box covers 15 sq ft: 132 ÷ 15 = 8.8, so buy 9 boxes.
Tips before you buy
- Buy all boxes from the same production batch so color and shade match.
- Keep a few spare tiles after the job for future repairs.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles do I need for 100 square feet?
With 12 × 12 in tiles (1 sq ft each) and 10% waste you need 110 tiles. With 6 × 6 in tiles (0.25 sq ft each) you need 440.
Do I need to account for grout lines?
Not for ordering. Grout joints take up a small fraction of the floor, so ignoring them slightly overestimates the tile count, which gives you a little extra for cuts.
Can I use this for laminate or vinyl plank flooring?
Yes. Enter the room size and the coverage per box from the packaging. The box count is the number you need; the tile count can be ignored.
What waste percentage should I use?
Around 10% for a straight layout in a simple room, and 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone patterns, rooms with many corners, or large-format tiles.