Estimate how many tiles are needed to cover your area. Enter the dimensions, tile size, and optional cost details below.

Comprehensive Guide to Tile Estimation

Planning a renovation project involves precise calculations. Whether you are tiling a bathroom floor, a kitchen backsplash, or a large outdoor patio, getting the math right is crucial to avoid running out of materials or overspending. Our Tile Calculator simplifies this process by handling unit conversions and wastage automatically.

1. How to Measure Your Area for Tiling

First, determine the total square footage (or meters) of the room. Measure the length and width of the floor or wall.

Rectangular Rooms: Simply multiply Length × Width.
L-Shaped Rooms: Divide the room into two separate rectangular sections (A and B). Calculate the area for each and add them together.
Obstacles: If you have a permanent island or vanity that you won't tile under, calculate its area and subtract it from the total room area.

2. Understanding Tile Sizes and Grout

Input the length and width of the specific tile you have chosen. Common sizes include:

Standard: 12x12 inches or 12x24 inches (common for floors).
Large Format: 24x24 inches or 24x48 inches (modern aesthetic).
Subway Tiles: 3x6 inches or 4x12 inches (popular for backsplashes).

Don't forget the grout gap! Even a small gap of 1/8 inch (3mm) affects how many tiles fit in a row. Our calculator adds this gap to the tile dimension to give a precise "effective" tile size.

3. Tile Patterns and Wastage Factors

Wastage refers to the tiles that are cut and discarded to fit the edges of the room. Professional tilers always recommend buying extra.

Straight Lay (Grid): The most common pattern. Requires 5-10% wastage.
Diagonal (Diamond): This pattern hides crooked walls but requires more cuts. Plan for 15% wastage.
Herringbone: A complex pattern often used for wood-look tiles. Plan for 15-20% wastage due to the intricate cuts at the room borders.

*This calculator defaults to a safe 5% wastage buffer, but you should consider ordering more if using a complex pattern.*

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I manually calculate tiles needed?

To calculate tiles manually:

Calculate Room Area: Room Length × Room Width.
Calculate Single Tile Area: Tile Length × Tile Width (convert to same units as room).
Divide Room Area by Tile Area to get the base number of tiles.
Multiply by 1.10 to add a 10% safety buffer for cuts and breaks.

What is a "Batch" or "Lot" number?

Tiles are fired in kilns, and slight color variations occur between productions. Always buy enough tiles (plus extra) from the same Batch Number or Dye Lot. If you run out and buy more later, the new batch might be a slightly different shade.

Does this calculator work for wall tiles?

Yes! The math for floors and walls is identical. Simply enter the height of the wall as the "Length" and the width of the wall as the "Width".