What this calculator does
The Tile Calculator tells you how many tiles you need to cover a floor or wall, how many boxes to buy, and what the tiles will cost. Enter the area to be tiled and the size of a single tile; the calculator works out how many whole tiles fit, adds a waste allowance for cuts and breakage, and converts the total into boxes and cost if you know the packaging and price.
It is useful for bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, terraces, and feature walls, and it works with metric (meters, centimeters) and imperial (feet, inches) units. The page is available in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
How to use the Tile Calculator
- Enter the area to be tiled and choose square meters or square feet. To get the area, multiply the room's length by its width (for walls: height × width). If you have several areas, add them together first.
- Enter the tile width and height as printed on the box, in centimeters or inches. Both fields always use the same unit, and you may enter the dimensions in either order.
- Set the waste allowance (10% by default). Use 10–15% for regular rooms and 15–20% for diagonal, herringbone, or brick-bond layouts, small rooms, or many cuts.
- Optionally enter tiles per box and the price per box to get box counts and total cost.
- Click "Calculate" to see the number of tiles, the boxes needed, and the estimated cost.
Formulas
With area A, tile dimensions w × h, and waste percentage p, the calculator uses:
Both results are always rounded up to whole numbers, because you cannot buy a fraction of a tile or a box. The tile area is computed in the same unit system as the room area, so centimeter tiles and square meters, or inch tiles and square feet, convert automatically.
Examples
- A bathroom floor of 12 m² with 60 × 60 cm tiles at 10% waste: each tile covers 0.36 m², so 12 × 1.10 ÷ 0.36 = 36.7 → 37 tiles. With 6 tiles per box that is 7 boxes, and at 25 per box the cost is 175.
- A kitchen wall of 90 ft² with 4 × 12 inch subway tiles at 15% waste: each tile covers 48 in² = 0.333 ft², so 90 × 1.15 ÷ 0.333 = 310.5 → 311 tiles.
- A terrace of 30 m² with 45 × 45 cm tiles at 15% waste: 30 × 1.15 ÷ 0.2025 = 170.4 → 171 tiles.
Frequently asked questions
How much waste allowance should I add?
10% is a common default for straightforward layouts. Use 15–20% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, rooms with many corners, alcoves, or obstacles, and for large-format tiles that produce more offcuts.
Why is the result rounded up?
Tiles and boxes are sold in whole units, and any fraction is rounded up to guarantee you have enough material. Leftover tiles are useful for future repairs.
Does the calculator account for grout gaps?
No. The calculation uses the nominal tile size, which is the standard trade practice. Grout joints of 2–5 mm change the count only marginally, and the waste allowance covers the difference.
Can I mix units, like meters and inches?
You can choose the units independently: the area can be in m² or ft², and the tile dimensions in cm or inches. The calculator converts between metric and imperial internally, so any combination works.
What if my tile is square?
Enter the same number in both width and height, for example 60 and 60 for a 60 × 60 cm tile.
What if I don't know the tiles per box or price?
Leave those fields empty. The calculator then reports only the tile count and the area covered, which is all you need to take to a store.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
No. Every calculation runs in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent to a server.
Related calculators
Other free calculators commonly used with this tool: Concrete Calculator, Paint Calculator, and Irregular Surface Area Calculator.
Want a deeper walkthrough? Read our tile quantity guide.