Tile Flooring Calculator

What this tool does

Figures out how many tiles you actually need to cover a floor, including grout gaps and wastage for cuts — the two things basic square-footage math always misses and that lead to running short mid-project. It supports multiple room sections in one calculation, so an L-shaped room, a room with an alcove, or several rooms tiled in the same order can all be added up together instead of calculated separately and summed by hand.

How to use it

Switch between Imperial (feet/inches) and Metric (meters/cm) depending on how your tiles are sold. Add a section for each rectangular part of the space you're tiling — most rooms only need one, but an L-shape or multiple rooms just means clicking "Add section" for each additional rectangle. Enter your tile's width and height and the grout gap you're planning to use, then pick a wastage percentage based on your layout: straight lay only needs about 10% extra for cuts and breakage, a diagonal or herringbone pattern eats more material and needs 15%, and complex layouts with lots of cuts around fixtures should budget 20%. If you know tiles per box and cost per box, the calculator also tells you exactly how many boxes to buy and the total cost.

Common use cases

• Getting an accurate materials list before ordering tile for a bathroom, kitchen, or full-room renovation
• Comparing the cost of a straight-lay pattern versus a diagonal one before committing to a design
• Working out an L-shaped room or hallway-plus-room by adding each rectangular section separately
• Double-checking a contractor's material estimate before signing off on an order

Frequently asked questions

How much extra tile should I really buy?

10% is the standard rule of thumb for a simple straight-lay pattern on a rectangular room. Diagonal and herringbone patterns waste more material to cuts, so 15% is more realistic, and anything with lots of corners, doorways, or fixtures to cut around should go up to 20%.

Why does the grout gap matter for how many tiles I need?

Each tile effectively takes up slightly more floor space than its own dimensions once you account for the grout line around it — over an entire room, that adds up to a real difference in how many tiles fit, especially with larger gap widths or smaller tiles.

What's the difference between "Total Area" and "Area with Wastage"?

Total Area is just your room's actual square footage. Area with Wastage is that number inflated by your chosen wastage percentage — it's the number the tile-count calculation is actually based on, since it accounts for cuts, breakage, and future repairs.

Can I use this for wall tile instead of flooring?

Yes — the math is identical whether you're covering a floor or a wall. Just enter the wall's dimensions as a "room section" the same way you would a floor.

Should I round up the boxes needed, or can I buy exactly the tiles I need?

Always round up to full boxes — this tool already does that for you. Tile is typically sold by the box, dye lots can vary between production runs, and having a few spare tiles from the same batch is worth it for future repairs.