Tile Calculator
Calculate how many tiles you need for any floor or wall. Choose from popular tile sizes or enter custom dimensions. Get tile count with waste, boxes, grout, thinset mortar, and cost estimate.
๐ฒ Tile Calculator
Tiles
Total Area100.00 sq ft
Tiles (exact)98 tiles
Tiles (+ waste)108 tiles
Boxes Needed11 boxes
Materials
Grout10 lbs
Thinset Mortar2 bags (50 lb)
๐ก How to Calculate Tiles Needed
Tile calculation divides your total area by the area of one tile (including the grout gap). A 12ร12 inch tile with a โ -inch gap has an effective size of 12.125 ร 12.125 inches = 1.02 sq ft. This small difference matters โ over 100 sq ft, it means 2โ3 extra tiles.
Always add a waste factor: 10% for standard straight-lay, 15% for diagonal or herringbone, and 20% for complex patterns. Tiles are sold by the box, so round up to full boxes. Donโt forget thinset mortar (~50 sq ft per 50 lb bag) and grout (~1 lb per 10 sq ft at โ -inch joints).
Measure floor area with our square footage calculator. For general flooring, use our flooring calculator. For outdoor surfaces, try our gravel calculator.
Tile Types Comparison
| Type | Material $/sq ft | Durability | Water Resistance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | $1โ$5 | 10โ20 years | Good (glazed) | Walls, light-traffic floors, backsplash |
| Porcelain | $3โ$10 | 25โ50 years | Excellent | Bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor, high-traffic |
| Natural Stone | $5โ$30 | 50+ years | Needs sealing | Entryways, luxury baths, fireplaces |
| Glass | $7โ$30 | 30+ years | Excellent | Backsplash, accent walls, showers |
| Mosaic | $5โ$25 | 20+ years | Good | Shower floors, accent strips, borders |
| Cement / Encaustic | $8โ$20 | 25+ years | Needs sealing | Decorative floors, entryways |
Step-by-Step: How to Calculate Tiles
- Measure the area in feet (length ร width). For L-shaped rooms, break into rectangles and add.
- Calculate the effective tile area: Add the grout gap to each tile dimension, then multiply. Example: 12" tile + โ " gap = 12.125" โ (12.125 รท 12)ยฒ = 1.02 sq ft.
- Divide total area by tile area to get the exact tile count.
- Add waste: Multiply by 1.10 for standard lay, 1.15 for diagonal, or 1.20 for herringbone/complex patterns.
- Round up to full boxes. Check the box coverage (sq ft or tile count) on the product label.
Popular Tile Sizes
| Size (inches) | Tiles per sq ft | Tiles per box (typical) | Box coverage (sq ft) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ร 6 | 4.0 | 40โ50 | 10โ12 | Shower walls, accent areas |
| 12 ร 12 | 1.0 | 10โ12 | 10โ12 | Floors, walls (most popular) |
| 12 ร 24 | 0.5 | 6โ8 | 12โ16 | Modern floors, large bathrooms |
| 18 ร 18 | 0.44 | 5โ7 | 11โ16 | Open-plan floors |
| 24 ร 24 | 0.25 | 4โ5 | 16โ20 | Large living areas, commercial |
| 3 ร 6 (subway) | 8.0 | 50โ80 | 6โ10 | Backsplash, shower walls |
| 1 ร 1 (mosaic sheet) | โ | 10 sheets | 10 | Shower floors, borders |
Tile Layout Patterns
| Pattern | Waste Factor | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Lay (Grid) | 10% | Easy | Tiles aligned in a grid. Simplest pattern, great for beginners. |
| Brick / Running Bond | 10% | Easy | Each row offset by half a tile. Classic subway tile pattern. |
| Diagonal (45ยฐ) | 15% | Moderate | Grid rotated 45ยฐ. More cuts at walls, but makes rooms look larger. |
| Herringbone | 15โ20% | Hard | Rectangular tiles at 90ยฐ angles in a V-shape. Very stylish, more waste. |
| Basket Weave | 15% | Moderate | Pairs of tiles alternating horizontal and vertical. Classic look. |
| Chevron | 20% | Hard | Similar to herringbone but tiles are cut at an angle. Premium look. |
Grout & Thinset Guide
Grout
- Unsanded grout: For joints โ inch or narrower. Smooth finish, best for walls and polished tile.
- Sanded grout: For joints โ to ยฝ inch. Stronger, less likely to crack in wider joints. Standard for floor tile.
- Epoxy grout: Waterproof and stain-proof. More expensive and harder to work with, but ideal for showers and kitchen backsplash.
- Coverage: ~1 lb per 10 sq ft for 12ร12 tiles with โ " joints. Smaller tiles or wider joints need more.
Thinset Mortar
- Standard thinset: For ceramic and porcelain up to 15" in any direction. ~50 sq ft per 50 lb bag with ยผรยผ trowel.
- Large-format thinset (LFT): Required for tiles larger than 15" in any direction. Prevents lippage.
- White vs gray: Use white thinset under light-colored or translucent tiles (glass, light marble). Gray for everything else.
Tile Cost (2025 US Pricing)
| Cost Component | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Ceramic tile | $1โ$5 per sq ft |
| Porcelain tile | $3โ$10 per sq ft |
| Natural stone tile | $5โ$30 per sq ft |
| Subway tile (3ร6) | $2โ$8 per sq ft |
| Thinset mortar (50 lb bag) | $15โ$30 per bag |
| Grout (25 lb bag) | $12โ$25 per bag |
| Professional installation | $4โ$12 per sq ft labor |
| 100 sq ft bathroom (porcelain, pro) | $1,000โ$2,500 total |
Installation Tips
- Dry-lay first: Place tiles without adhesive to check the layout, verify symmetry, and minimize narrow cuts at walls.
- Use tile spacers: Spacers ensure consistent grout joints. Remove them before grouting.
- Start from the center: Snap chalk lines from the center of each wall to find the center point. Start tiling there and work outward for a balanced layout.
- Back-butter large tiles: For tiles larger than 15", apply thinset to both the substrate and the back of the tile for full coverage.
- Waterproof wet areas: Apply a waterproofing membrane (RedGard, Kerdi, etc.) before tiling shower walls and floors. Tile is not waterproof โ the membrane is.
- Wait before grouting: Let thinset cure for 24 hours before applying grout. Wait another 24โ72 hours after grouting before exposing to water.
100 sq ft bathroom with 12ร12 tiles and โ
" gap = 97 tiles exact. With 10% waste = 107 tiles. At 10 tiles/box: 11 boxes. Thinset: 2 bags. Grout: 10 lbs.