Tile Calculator
Calculate how much tile you need — including waste, boxes and layout.
You'll need
132.0sq ft
12 ft × 10 ft
How big is your room?
Live diagram
You'll need
132.0sq ft
Recommended amount
Actual 120.0 sq ft + 10% waste
Getting your tile order right
Square footage — not tile count — is what suppliers quote against. Complex layouts like diagonal and herringbone create more cut waste, so we default to a higher allowance for those patterns.
Planning tile alongside the rest of the job
Tiling over a new slab? Work out the pour first with the concrete calculator.
Finishing the walls in the same room? The drywall calculator covers sheets, mud and tape.
Related calculators
- fence calculator — for outdoor runs on the same job.
- concrete calculator — for the substrate pour.
FAQFrequently asked questions
A 10×10 room is 100 sq ft. With a 12×12" tile and 10% waste, you’d need about 110 sq ft of tile — roughly 110 tiles, or check your box coverage to get an exact box count.
10% is standard for a straight layout. Offset/brick layouts typically need 10–15%, and diagonal or herringbone layouts need 15% or more due to angled cuts.
| Layout | Waste allowance |
|---|---|
| Straight / grid | 10% |
| Offset / brick | 10–15% |
| Diagonal | 15%+ |
| Herringbone | 15%+ |
Diagonal layouts create more edge cuts than a straight grid, so we recommend a 15% waste allowance instead of the standard 10%.
For 12×12" tile with 1/8" joints, allow roughly 1 lb of grout per 8–10 sq ft. Smaller tiles and wider joints use considerably more — mosaic sheets can need three times as much. The calculator adjusts for your tile size and joint width; confirm against your grout manufacturer’s coverage chart before buying.
Enter your box’s coverage (printed on the box, usually in sq ft) under “Buying by the box?” and we’ll calculate the number of boxes, always rounded up.
Yes. Vinyl tile, LVT and LVP are calculated the same way as ceramic — by coverage area plus waste. Skip the grout and thinset figures, and check whether your product needs underlayment, which is calculated separately.
Larger tiles (18×18" and up) read as more modern and mean fewer grout lines, but create more waste in small or irregular rooms. Smaller tiles suit tight spaces and intricate layouts.