๐ Tile Calculator
Enter a room's width and depth (in meters) and a single tile's size (in centimeters), and this tool calculates how many tiles you need for the job. Set a "waste rate" to account for cutting losses, giving you a safer amount to order. Handy for planning a DIY floor or wall tiling project.
How to use
- Enter the room's width and depth in meters.
- Enter the width and height of a single tile in centimeters.
- Enter a waste rate (%) โ the number of tiles needed is calculated automatically.
How the calculation works
This tool works out how many tiles you need from the floor or wall area and the size of one tile. Floor area (mยฒ) = width (m) ร length (m) Tile area (mยฒ) = tile height (cm) รท 100 ร tile width (cm) รท 100 Tiles (exact) = floor area รท tile area Tiles with waste = exact ร (1 + waste % รท 100), rounded up At the edges of the room and around pillars, tiles have to be cut, and the offcuts often cannot be reused, so a waste allowance covers them. About 10% is typical; allow around 15% for diagonal layouts or awkwardly shaped rooms.
Worked example
Floor 4 m ร 5 m, tiles 30 cm ร 30 cm, 10% waste Floor area: 20 mยฒ Tile: 0.3 ร 0.3 = 0.09 mยฒ Exact: 20 รท 0.09 โ 222.2 tiles With waste: 222.2 ร 1.1 โ 244.4 โ 245 tiles In boxes of 10, that is 25 boxes.
Things to be aware of
- Grout joints are not included. They reduce the real count slightly, but the waste allowance usually absorbs that.
- Keep a few spare tiles from the same batch for future repairs, so replacements match in colour.
- Measure the room wall to wall yourself; plan dimensions are sometimes taken to the centre of walls.
FAQ
What is the "waste rate"?
It's an extra margin to account for tiles lost to edge cuts and breakage. 5โ15% is a common rule of thumb.
Does this account for grout line width?
No, this tool calculates based purely on the tile's own size and doesn't account for grout width. For a more precise count, calculate using a size that includes the grout line.
Does this work for non-square rooms?
Yes, for a rectangular room the calculation is based on width ร depth. For irregularly shaped rooms, it's best to split the area into sections and calculate each separately.