Skip to content

Tile Calculator

Calculate tiles needed for floors, walls, and surfaces. Account for grout gaps, box sizes, and costs.

Tile Worksheet
$

Something wrong or missing? Tell us — we read every report and fix issues fast.

How to Calculate Tiles

Enter your tile size and the area to cover. The calculator accounts for grout gaps to give an accurate tile count.

Common Tile Sizes

  • 12" x 12": Classic floor tile, easy to install
  • 12" x 24": Modern rectangular, popular for floors
  • 6" x 6": Standard wall tile
  • 3" x 6": Subway tile for backsplashes
  • 24" x 24": Large format for open spaces

Grout Gap Guidelines

  • 1/16": Rectified tiles, tight joints
  • 1/8": Standard for wall tiles
  • 1/4": Standard for floor tiles
  • 3/8": Rustic or handmade tiles

How Many Tiles You Need

The formula: Tiles = Area ÷ (Tile Width + Grout Gap) × (Tile Height + Grout Gap). Then add your waste factor. Example: 100 sq ft floor with 12×12" tiles and 1/4" grout gaps needs about 100 tiles + 10% = 110 tiles.

Choosing the Right Tile

  • Ceramic: $1-7/sq ft. Good for walls and low-traffic floors. Easy to cut, lightweight
  • Porcelain: $3-10/sq ft. Denser and more water-resistant than ceramic. Best for bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor use
  • Natural stone: $5-25/sq ft. Marble, slate, travertine. Requires sealing. Each piece is unique
  • Glass mosaic: $5-15/sq ft. Decorative backsplashes and accents. Not for floors

Installation Tips

  • Dry-lay tiles before adhering to check the pattern and plan cuts
  • Start from the center of the room and work outward for symmetrical borders
  • Use tile spacers for consistent grout lines
  • Plan cuts so edge tiles are at least half a tile wide — narrow slivers look unprofessional and break easily
  • For floors, use floor-rated thinset mortar. Wall adhesive won't hold floor tiles
  • Wait 24 hours after setting tiles before grouting

Related Calculators

Slope Percentage Calculator — % Grade, Angle, Ratio Calculate slope percentage from rise and run, or convert between percent grade, degrees, and 1:N ratio. Includes ADA ramp, driveway, road, and drainage standards. Acreage Calculator — Land Area in Acres, Hectares Calculate land area in acres from length and width. Converts to sq ft, hectares, sq m, and more. Square Yards Calculator — Carpet, Flooring, Cost Calculate square yardage from length and width. Includes unit conversion and optional cost estimation for carpet and flooring. Square Footage Calculator — Room Area + Paint Estimate Calculate square footage for rooms and spaces. Get paint and flooring estimates from one entry. Paint Calculator — Coats, Doors, Windows, Cost Calculate paint and primer needed with custom door/window dimensions, ceiling toggle, and cost estimates. Flooring Calculator — Multi-Room with Pattern Waste Calculate flooring for multiple rooms with waste presets by pattern (straight/diagonal/herringbone) and box/carton calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many extra tiles should I buy?

Buy 10 to 15 percent more tiles than the floor area needs. The extra covers cuts at the edges, breakage during installation, and spare tiles for future repairs, because a later batch may not match in color or size. Order the whole job at once, from the same lot number, so every box matches.

How many 12x12 tiles do I need for 120 square feet?

You need about 130 tiles of 12 by 12 inches for 120 square feet with a 1/8 inch grout gap. Each tile plus its share of the joint covers about 1.02 square feet, so the area alone takes about 118 tiles. Adding the standard 10 percent waste allowance brings the order to about 130 tiles.

What is the standard grout gap for floor tiles?

Most floor tiles use a grout gap of 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch. Large format tiles of 16 inches or more often use 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch, and mosaic tiles use 1/16 inch. The gap affects the tile count, because grout takes up space and fewer tiles fit in the same area as the joints get wider.

How many extra tiles do I need for a diagonal layout?

Add 15 to 20 percent extra tiles for a diagonal layout, compared with 10 to 15 percent for a straight lay. The floor area calculation is the same, but setting tiles at 45 degrees means almost every tile along each wall must be cut, which produces more offcuts that cannot be reused elsewhere in the room.