Tile Calculator

Formula

effectiveTileArea = (tileLength + groutGap) × (tileWidth + groutGap)effectiveTileAreaSqFt = effectiveTileArea / 144tilesNeeded = ⌈area / effectiveTileAreaSqFt⌉totalTiles = ⌈tilesNeeded × (1 + waste/100)⌉boxes = ⌈totalTiles / tilesPerBox⌉

Parameters

Tile Length

Length of one tile in inches.

Tile Width

Width of one tile in inches.

Grout Gap

Width of grout line between tiles (inches).

Pattern

Grid (10% waste), Diagonal (15%), Herringbone (20%).

Waste %

Extra material for cuts and breakage. Auto-set by pattern.

Tiles per Box

Tiles per box from manufacturer. Set 0 to skip.

Results

Tiles Needed

Total tiles including waste.

Boxes

Boxes to purchase (if tiles/box set).

Example

effectiveTileArea = (4 + 0.0625) × (4 + 0.0625) = 16.50 sq ineffectiveTileAreaSqFt = 16.50 / 144 = 0.1146 sq fttilesNeeded = ⌈30 / 0.1146⌉ = 262totalTiles = ⌈262 × 1.10⌉ = 289 tiles

Common Use Cases

• Bathroom floors and shower walls
• Kitchen backsplashes
• Entryway and mudroom flooring
• Outdoor patios and pool decks

Notes

• Grout gap significantly affects tile count for small tiles (mosaics especially).
• Diagonal and herringbone patterns require more cuts, increasing waste.
• Common tile sizes: 4×4", 6×6", 12×12", 12×24", 24×24", 24×48". Large-format tiles (>12") are faster to install but harder to cut around fixtures.
• Standard grout gap by tile size: 1/16″ for mosaics, 1/8″ for wall tile, 3/16″ to 1/4″ for floor and large-format tile.

Frequently Asked Questions