Tile Calculator

Knowing exactly how many tiles a job requires is the difference between one clean order and a costly mid-project reorder. Landing on the right count spares you both the overspend of buying too much and the delay of running short.

The method is straightforward: find the total area to be tiled by multiplying length by width, then divide that by the area of a single tile to get a base count. From there the count is scaled up by a waste factor you set yourself, generally 10 to 15% for a standard grid and 20% or more once you move into intricate patterns or large-format tiles. That cushion absorbs the cuts, the breakage, and a few spares held back for repairs down the line. The calculator offers 12, 18 and 24-inch square tiles and prices the area plus waste at your tile cost per square foot ($5 by default) and $2 per square foot for grout and adhesive; installation labor is not included.

Measuring the space more than once is worth the extra minute, since a single bad number ripples straight into wasted material or a shortfall. If you are working with very small tiles, fold the grout lines into your area figure too, because the gaps between them shave a little off how much surface each tile actually covers.