Calculate how many tiles or boxes you need for a floor, wall, backsplash, or multiple areas. Enter room dimensions, tile size, an optional waste allowance, box coverage, and price.
Tile Calculator
Choose a mode, enter your measurements, and press Calculate for tiles, boxes, and cost.
ft
in
ft
in
Use this if you have more than one identical floor or area, such as two matching bedrooms.
ft
in
ft
in
Use this to calculate several walls of the same width and height at once.
Openings (optional)
Subtracting openings is optional. Small outlets rarely matter, but larger openings such as windows, doors, and cabinet areas can meaningfully change the tiled area.
Useful for a bathroom floor plus a shower, several walls, multiple backsplash sections, or several rooms. Check "Subtract" for any section that should be removed from the total instead of added.
Up to 30 rows. Each row's length times width times quantity is added to (or subtracted from) the total.
This mode estimates tiles across and tiles down using a repeating tile-plus-grout module. It is a layout reference, not an exact installation count: edge cuts and pattern layout affect the final quantity, and cut pieces can sometimes be reused.
Grout-joint width is an installation decision based on tile dimensional variation, tile type, manufacturer requirements, and installation standards. This field only accepts the width you intend to use for layout math; it is not a recommendation.
Tile Size
This is a planning allowance you choose, not a required waste figure. It is never applied automatically or claimed as a Tile Council of North America rule.
%
Complex patterns and diagonal cuts can increase offcuts. There is no single percentage that is automatically correct for any pattern; choose the allowance above that fits your tile, layout, and project.
Optional: Box Coverage & Cost
Use the coverage printed on the actual box. Manufacturers package the same nominal tile size differently.
If entered along with box coverage, the calculator checks whether the two figures imply a consistent tile count.
$
This is an estimated tile material cost only. It excludes mortar, grout, underlayment, membranes, labor, trim, tools, delivery, and tax unless you enter them yourself.
This calculator estimates material quantity only. It does not determine substrate preparation, waterproofing, mortar selection, grout selection, movement-joint placement, structural adequacy, or installation method.
To estimate tile quantity, you need the project area, the tile area, and any extra material allowance you want to include. The basic formula is Number of Tiles equals Project Area divided by Tile Face Area. Suppose a floor is 12 feet by 10 feet, for an area of 120 square feet. If each tile measures 12 in by 12 in, each tile covers 1 square foot, so 120 divided by 1 equals 120 tiles before adding any allowance.
Visual: Project Area
Project area equals length times width. A 12 ft by 10 ft floor covers 120 square feet.
Project area example
Length
Width
Area
12 ft
10 ft
120 ft²
How Do I Calculate Tile Area?
Multiply tile length by tile width, being careful with units. A 12 in by 24 in tile has 288 square inches. One square foot contains 144 square inches, so 288 divided by 144 equals 2 square feet. A 120 square foot floor would therefore mathematically require 120 divided by 2, or 60 tiles, before rounding, cuts, or a planning allowance.
Visual: Tile Face Area
A 12 in by 24 in tile covers 288 square inches, or 2 square feet.
Tile face area example
Tile Length
Tile Width
Area
12 in
24 in
2 ft²
Visual: Area Divided by Tile Area
120 ft² divided by 2 ft² per tile equals 60 raw tiles, before rounding or allowance.
Dividing project area by tile area
Project Area
Tile Area
Raw Tiles
120 ft²
2 ft²
60
Why Does the Tile Calculator Round Up?
You cannot usually buy 60.3 individual tiles when a project mathematically requires more than 60 full tile equivalents, so whole-tile quantity rounds upward. If the raw result is 60.1, the whole-tile count becomes 61 before applying the chosen planning method. For boxed products, the box count must also round upward, because partial boxes may not be sold.
How Much Extra Tile Should I Buy?
There is no single percentage that is correct for every project. Extra material can help account for cuts, breakage, damage, pattern layout, color or shade matching, and future repairs. A straightforward rectangular installation can create less waste than a complex diagonal or irregular layout, so this calculator lets you choose 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or a custom percentage. It never quietly adds 10% and calls that a rule.
Visual: Allowance Added to Raw Tiles
60 raw tiles plus a 10% allowance adds 6 tiles, for a 66-tile planning total.
Allowance added to raw tile count
Component
Value
Whole tiles
60
10% allowance
+6
Planning tile count
66
Example With a 10% Planning Allowance
Suppose the raw tile count is 60. The user chooses 10%. The additional planning amount is 60 times 0.10, or 6. The planning total is 66 tiles. This does not mean the Tile Council of North America mandates 10% waste. It simply means the user selected a 10% planning allowance.
Use the coverage printed on the actual box whenever possible. Suppose the planning area is 132 square feet and the product label states 15.5 square feet per box. Dividing gives 132 divided by 15.5, which equals 8.516. Rounding up gives 9 boxes. This is usually more reliable than assuming every box of a particular tile size contains the same number of tiles, because manufacturers package products differently.
Visual: Boxes Needed
132 ft² divided by 15.5 ft² per box equals 8.52, which rounds up to 9 boxes.
Boxes needed example
Planning Area
Box Coverage
Raw Boxes
Boxes Needed
132 ft²
15.5 ft²
8.516
9
Should I Use Tiles per Box or Square Feet per Box?
If both figures are available, box coverage in square feet or square meters is particularly convenient. Use the manufacturer's printed coverage. If the box says 8 tiles and 15.5 square feet, do not assume another manufacturer's eight-tile box covers the same area, since tile dimensions and packaging differ between brands.
How Do I Calculate Wall Tile?
For a rectangular wall, multiply width by height. A 10 ft wide, 8 ft high wall covers 80 square feet. If the wall contains a large opening, subtract it. Suppose a window measures 4 ft by 3 ft, or 12 square feet. The net tiled area is 80 minus 12, or 68 square feet. Then calculate tile quantity from the net area the same way as a floor.
Visual: Wall Openings
Gross wall area minus a window and a doorway equals the net area to be tiled.
Wall area minus openings
Step
Value
Gross wall area (10 ft × 8 ft)
80 ft²
Window opening (4 ft × 3 ft)
−12 ft²
Net tile area
68 ft²
Should I Subtract Every Outlet and Small Opening?
Usually the calculator does not need every tiny electrical opening entered separately, because the amount of tile saved by a small outlet opening may be negligible when surrounding tiles still require cuts. For larger openings such as windows, doors, and large cabinet areas, subtraction can materially affect area. Let your own project decide what to subtract using the optional openings fields in Wall / Backsplash mode.
How Do I Calculate a Backsplash?
Break the backsplash into rectangles. For example, Section A at 8 ft by 1.5 ft covers 12 square feet, and Section B at 4 ft by 1.5 ft covers 6 square feet, for a total of 18 square feet. Subtract large untiled openings if appropriate, then add the selected planning allowance. Multiple Areas mode can list each backsplash section separately and total them automatically.
How Do I Calculate Tile for Multiple Walls?
Use Multiple Areas mode and enter each wall individually, calculating Wall 1, Wall 2, Wall 3, and so on, then add the net areas. This is more accurate than multiplying one wall by four when room walls have different dimensions.
What Does Grout Joint Width Change?
A grout joint creates spacing between tile faces. In a simple layout model, tile plus joint forms a repeating module. Tile Layout Count mode can estimate tiles across and tiles down using the entered joint width. However, the recommended grout-joint width is an installation decision, and the TCNA Handbook and applicable standards address grout-joint and installation considerations. This calculator does not invent one universal joint width.
Tiles Across = ceil[(Area Length + Joint Width) ÷ (Tile Length + Joint Width)]
Tiles Down = ceil[(Area Width + Joint Width) ÷ (Tile Width + Joint Width)]
Grid Count = Tiles Across × Tiles Down
How Does the Layout Count Work?
For one dimension, the calculator uses ceil of the project dimension plus joint width, divided by the tile dimension plus joint width, which estimates how many tile positions are needed along that direction. Repeating for the other direction and multiplying tiles across by tiles down gives the grid count. This is a layout reference: real installations can reuse some cut pieces and lose others, so the area-based result and the layout-grid result may differ slightly.
Example
A 10 ft by 8 ft area with 12 in by 12 in tile and a 0.125 in grout joint needs 10 tiles across and 8 tiles down, for a grid count of 80 tile positions.
Does Diagonal Tile Need More Waste?
A diagonal layout generally creates more perimeter cuts than a simple straight grid, but there is no single automatic percentage guaranteed for every diagonal room. Factors include room shape, tile size, pattern, installer layout, and cut reuse. Select the planning allowance appropriate for the project rather than treating the calculator percentage as an installation standard.
What About Running-Bond Patterns?
Running bond, brick patterns, herringbone, and other layouts can change cuts, alignment, visual planning, and waste. They can also have technical installation considerations depending on tile type and dimensions. CalculateThisWay estimates quantity but does not design the tile installation.
Why Tile Size Can Be Confusing
A tile marketed as 12 by 24 may not have an exact physical face dimension of precisely 12.000 by 24.000 inches, because tile products can use nominal sizing. For the most accurate piece-count estimate, use actual product dimensions or the manufacturer-stated box coverage. If you use nominal size, understand that the result is an estimate.
What Is the TCNA Handbook?
The Tile Council of North America publishes the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation. The current Handbook includes standardized installation-method guidance and information concerning substrates, wet areas, grout joints, patterns, movement accommodation, and workmanship. A quantity calculator does not replace that guidance.
What Are Movement Joints?
Tile and its supporting structure can expand and contract. The Tile Council of North America explains that movement accommodation is needed in tile installations, and movement-joint location and frequency depend on project conditions. This calculator is not a movement-joint calculator. It simply reminds users that material quantity is only one part of a successful installation.
Does Tile Calculator Include Mortar and Grout?
Not unless separate, dedicated calculators are intentionally built later. Tile quantity does not directly determine exact mortar or grout quantities, because those depend on tile dimensions, trowel size, substrate, mortar type, joint width, joint depth, and manufacturer coverage. This calculator does not make unsupported material estimates for either product.
How Much Does Tile Cost?
If tile costs $4.50 per square foot and the planning area is 132 square feet, the estimated tile material cost is 132 times $4.50, or $594. If the product is sold by box, multiply boxes needed by the box price; for example, 9 boxes at $42 per box equals $378. This excludes other project costs unless you enter them yourself.
Tile Calculator vs Square Footage Calculator
Use the Square Footage Calculator when you need to determine room area, wall area, or several room areas. Use this Tile Calculator when you also know tile dimensions, box coverage, and planning allowance, and want a tile or box quantity.
Tile Calculator vs Concrete Calculator
Concrete uses volume. Tile uses surface area. A floor can have 120 square feet of tile surface while concrete beneath that floor may require a cubic-yard calculation based on thickness, using the Concrete Calculator. These are different measurements.
The Bottom Line
Tile quantity begins with project area divided by tile area. Then round to whole tiles, apply the planning allowance you choose, and round boxes upward based on actual manufacturer coverage. This calculator always separates measured area, raw tile count, extra allowance, planning quantity, boxes, and cost, so you can see exactly how the estimate was produced.
Worked Examples
12x12 in Tile
12 ft × 10 ft room, 12 in × 12 in tile, 10% allowance.
120 ÷ 1 = 120 raw tiles
132 planning tiles
12x24 in Tile
12 ft × 10 ft room, 12 in × 24 in tile, 10% allowance.
120 ÷ 2 = 60 raw tiles
66 planning tiles
Wall Minus a Window
10 ft × 8 ft wall, minus a 4 ft × 3 ft window.
80 − 12 = 68 ft²
68 ft² net
Boxes Needed
132 ft² planning area, 15.5 ft² per box.
132 ÷ 15.5 = 8.516
9 boxes
Box Cost
9 boxes at $42 per box.
9 × $42
$378 estimated material cost
Tile Layout Count
10 ft × 8 ft area, 12x12 in tile, 0.125 in grout.
10 across × 8 down
80 grid positions
Try It Yourself
A 12 ft by 10 ft floor, with a 12 in by 12 in tile and a 10% allowance.
How many raw tiles, and how many planning tiles?
Area is 12 × 10 = 120 ft². Tile area is 12 in × 12 in = 1 ft². Raw tiles are 120 ÷ 1 = 120. With a 10% allowance, 120 × 1.10 = 132 planning tiles.
Which Calculator Do I Need?
Tile Calculator (this page)
I know my tile size and want tile count, boxes, grout-joint layout, or tile material cost.
Divide your project's area by the tile's face area, round up to a whole tile, then add the allowance percentage you choose. The calculator above walks through each step for floors, walls, backsplashes, and multiple areas.
How do I calculate tile quantity?
Multiply tile length by tile width to get tile face area, divide your total project area by that figure, round up to a whole number of tiles, then apply any planning allowance you select.
How many 12x12 tiles do I need?
A 12 in by 12 in tile covers 1 square foot. Divide your project's square footage by 1 to get the raw tile count, then round up and add your chosen allowance.
How many 12x24 tiles do I need?
A 12 in by 24 in tile covers 2 square feet. Divide your project's square footage by 2, round up to a whole tile, then add your chosen allowance.
How many square feet does a 12x24 tile cover?
12 in times 24 in equals 288 square inches. Dividing by 144 square inches per square foot gives 2 square feet per tile.
How many tiles for a 100-square-foot room?
It depends on tile size. With a 1 square foot tile (12x12 in), 100 square feet needs 100 raw tiles before allowance. With a 2 square foot tile (12x24 in), it needs 50 raw tiles before allowance.
How many tiles for a 120-square-foot room?
With a 1 square foot tile, 120 square feet needs 120 raw tiles. With a 2 square foot tile, it needs 60 raw tiles, both before any planning allowance.
Should I add extra tile?
Most installations benefit from some extra material for cuts, breakage, future repairs, and shade matching, but the right amount depends on your tile, layout, and pattern. This calculator lets you choose 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or a custom percentage rather than assuming one.
Is 10% tile waste always required?
No. Ten percent is a common planning figure for many straightforward layouts, but it is not a rule from the Tile Council of North America or any manufacturer. Simple layouts can sometimes use less, and complex or diagonal layouts can need more.
How much extra tile for a diagonal pattern?
There is no single required percentage. Diagonal layouts typically create more perimeter cuts than a straight grid, so many installers choose a higher allowance, but the right figure depends on room shape, tile size, and how many cut pieces can be reused.
How do I calculate tile for a wall?
Multiply wall width by wall height for the gross area, subtract any openings you want removed such as windows or doors, then use the net area to calculate tile quantity the same way as a floor.
How do I calculate backsplash tile?
Break the backsplash into rectangular sections, calculate each section's area, add them together, subtract any large untiled openings, then apply your tile size and allowance to the total.
Should I subtract windows and doors?
For larger openings such as windows, doors, and large cabinet areas, subtracting can meaningfully change your material estimate. The calculator's optional openings fields let you decide.
Do I subtract outlets?
Usually not necessary. Small electrical openings rarely save a meaningful amount of tile, because surrounding tiles still need to be cut around them. Reserve opening subtraction for larger features like windows and doors.
How do I calculate multiple walls?
Use Multiple Areas mode and enter each wall's length and width separately, since walls in the same room often have different dimensions. The calculator adds the net areas automatically rather than assuming every wall matches.
How many boxes of tile do I need?
Divide your planning area by the coverage printed on the box, then round up, since boxes are sold as whole units. For example, 132 square feet at 15.5 square feet per box is 8.516, which rounds up to 9 boxes.
Where do I find square feet per box?
Check the printed label on the actual box of tile you plan to buy. Manufacturers list coverage per box because tile dimensions and packaging vary between brands and product lines.
Why should I use manufacturer box coverage?
Box coverage reflects the real packaging for that specific product, while assuming a standard tile count per box can be wrong, since manufacturers package the same nominal tile size differently.
How do I calculate tiles per row?
Use Tile Layout Count mode, which estimates tiles across and tiles down using your area dimensions, tile size, and grout joint width, then multiplies the two for a grid total.
Does grout spacing change tile count?
Yes, slightly. A wider grout joint increases the repeating tile-plus-joint module, which can change how many tile positions fit across a given dimension. Tile Layout Count mode factors this into its estimate.
What grout-joint width should I use?
That is an installation decision based on tile dimensional variation, tile type, manufacturer requirements, and project layout. The TCNA Handbook addresses grout-joint guidance, and this calculator only accepts the width you intend to use for layout math.
Does this calculator choose grout-joint width?
No. This calculator never recommends or assumes one universal grout-joint width. It simply uses whatever joint width you enter to estimate a tile layout grid.
What is nominal tile size?
Many tiles are marketed with a rounded, nominal size such as 12x24, even though their actual physical dimensions can differ slightly. For the most accurate count, use the tile's actual measured dimensions or the manufacturer's stated box coverage.
Is a 12x24 tile exactly 12x24?
Not necessarily. Tile products can use nominal sizing, so actual face dimensions may differ slightly from the marketed size. Measuring an actual tile, or using printed box coverage, gives a more accurate result.
How do I calculate tile cost?
Choose one pricing method, price per box, price per square foot, or price per tile, enter the price, and the calculator multiplies it by the matching planning quantity. This is only an estimated material cost.
Does the estimate include grout?
No. Grout quantity depends on tile size, joint width, joint depth, and manufacturer coverage rates, which this calculator does not estimate.
Does it include thinset or mortar?
No. Mortar and thinset quantities depend on trowel size, substrate, tile size, and manufacturer coverage, none of which this calculator attempts to estimate.
What is the TCNA Handbook?
The Tile Council of North America publishes the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, which covers installation methods, substrates, grout joints, patterns, wet areas, and movement accommodation. A quantity calculator does not replace that guidance.
What are movement joints?
Movement joints accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of tile and its supporting structure. The Tile Council of North America explains that movement accommodation is needed in tile installations, and exact joint placement depends on project conditions, which this calculator does not determine.
Does this calculator design the installation?
No. This calculator estimates material quantity only. It does not determine substrate preparation, waterproofing, mortar selection, grout selection, movement-joint placement, or structural adequacy.
What is the difference between Tile Calculator and Square Footage Calculator?
The Square Footage Calculator determines room, floor, or wall area. The Tile Calculator uses that kind of area plus tile dimensions, box coverage, and your chosen allowance to estimate tile and box quantities.
Sources & Further Learning
Tile Council of North America: TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation and general installation resources - tcnatile.com
Tile Council of North America: Resource Center FAQ, including Movement Joints guidance used here for educational, non-numeric context - tcnatile.com/resource-center/faq
National Institute of Standards and Technology: Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), used here for inch, foot, centimeter, and meter conversion relationships - nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811
Methodology & Limitations
Tile and project area math uses standard geometry. All internal area math is performed in square feet, with NIST-based conversion factors applied for metric entries and for inch, centimeter, and millimeter tile sizes.
Raw tile count always rounds up to a whole tile before any allowance is applied, and planning tile count rounds up again after the allowance is applied.
The extra material allowance is a planning figure the user selects. It is never applied automatically, and it is never presented as a Tile Council of North America or manufacturer requirement.
Box count is based on the box coverage the user enters, rounded up, since boxes are sold as whole units. This calculator does not assume a universal tiles-per-box figure.
Tile Layout Count mode is a separate, grid-based estimate using a tile-plus-grout-joint module. It is a layout reference, not a guaranteed exact count, and may differ slightly from the area-based estimate.
Any cost shown is a simple estimated tile material cost based on the pricing method and price entered. It excludes mortar, grout, underlayment, membranes, labor, trim, tools, delivery, and tax unless entered separately.
This calculator does not determine substrate requirements, waterproofing, mortar or grout selection, movement-joint placement, or structural adequacy, and it does not replace the TCNA Handbook or professional installation guidance.
This calculator estimates tile and box quantity and material cost from the measurements, tile size, allowance, and pricing you enter. It is a planning and estimating tool, not an installation design. It does not determine substrate preparation, waterproofing, mortar selection, grout selection, movement-joint placement, or structural adequacy, and it does not include mortar, grout, underlayment, membranes, labor, trim, tools, delivery, or tax unless you enter them yourself. Any material allowance shown is a planning figure you select, not a requirement from the Tile Council of North America or any manufacturer. Refer to the current TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation and to your tile manufacturer's instructions for installation requirements.