Figure My Build

Tile Calculator

Tell us the room size and the tile you're using. We count the tiles the way they'd actually be laid (full grid, grout gaps included), then add cutting waste and convert it to boxes.

Diagram of tiles with grout joints, showing how tile plus joint sets the true coverage per tile
Tiles plus the grout joint between them set the true coverage per tile.

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Enter your measurements

How the tile count is calculated

Most calculators just divide areas, which undercounts. This one uses the grid (pitch) method: each tile takes up its own size plus one grout gap. For a room, we count tiles along the length and the width separately and multiply, so partial tiles at the edges count as whole tiles you have to buy, exactly as on a real job.

If you only know the area (a backsplash, for example), the count is area ÷ tile-and-gap area. Either way, a waste allowance is then added: 10% for a straight lay, 15% for diagonal, 20% for complex patterns, the allowances tile manufacturers and installers standardly recommend.

Need the grout itself? The Grout Calculator works it out from the same measurements.

Sources

The figures behind this calculator come from published manufacturer data and industry standards:

Worked examples

10 × 12 ft floor, 12 in tiles

1/8 in grout gap, straight lay (10% waste), 10 tiles per box.

Buy 14 boxes (132 tiles)

5 × 8 ft bathroom, 6 in tiles

1/8 in gap, 10% waste, 20 tiles per box.

Buy 9 boxes (176 tiles)

30 sq ft backsplash, 3 × 6 in tiles

Known-area mode, 1/8 in gap, 10% waste, 20 per box.

Buy 13 boxes (249 tiles)

Frequently asked questions

How many tiles do I need for a 10×12 room?
With 12×12 in tiles and a 1/8 in grout gap, the grid works out to 120 tiles, or 132 with the standard 10% cutting allowance: 14 boxes if tiles come 10 to a box.
Why not just divide the room area by the tile area?
Because tiles don't stretch. If a row needs 9.9 tiles, you buy and cut 10. The grid method counts those edge tiles; the area method silently drops them and you run short.
How much extra tile should I buy for waste?
10% for straight layouts, 15% for diagonal or large-format tile, 20% for herringbone and other patterns. Keep one spare box afterwards for future repairs. Dye lots change.
Does grout gap really change the count?
Slightly. A wider gap means each tile covers a little more wall, so you need a few fewer tiles, but it also means more grout. The effect is small at 1/8 in and grows with wide joints and small tiles.

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Estimate disclaimer: results are planning estimates based on standard manufacturer yields and coverage figures. Site conditions, product choice and installation method change actual quantities. Verify before you buy, and follow local building code for structural work. This tool does not replace professional engineering advice.

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