Tile Calculator
From your area and tile size, get the number of tiles to buy with a waste allowance, the thinset and grout you need, and an estimated tile cost — for a floor, wall, or backsplash you can order in one trip.
How to Use
- Enter the area to tile in square feet (length × width of the floor, wall, or backsplash).
- Pick the tile size from the list, which sets how many square feet each tile covers.
- Set a waste percentage — 10% for a straight layout, 15% diagonal, 20% for patterns.
- Enter your price per tile to get an estimated material cost.
- Read the tile count, thinset and grout bags, and cost, then check the Show Work below.
Show Work
Extras
About the Tile Calculator
Whether you are at a desk or on your phone, the Tile Calculator makes building, materials estimation and site work easy — and it is completely free. From your area and tile size, get the number of tiles to buy with a waste allowance, the thinset and grout you need, and an estimated tile cost — for a floor, wall, or backsplash you can order in one trip.
How it works
Type your numbers into the boxes. The answer shows up right away — you do not have to press a button. If you change a number, the answer changes too. So you can try different numbers and watch what happens, or check an answer you worked out yourself. Just make sure each box has the right kind of number in it.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much waste should I add for tile?
Add about 10% for a simple straight-set floor or wall, 15% for a diagonal layout, and 20% or more for herringbone, basketweave, or other patterns with lots of cuts. Bigger tiles in a small room waste more because each cut sacrifices a large piece. The extra also gives you attic stock for future repairs from the same dye lot.
How much thinset and grout will I need?
A rough guide is one 50-lb bag of thinset per 50 ft² with a 1/4-in notch trowel, and one 25-lb bag of grout per 50 ft² at a 3/16-in joint. Larger tiles and wider joints change those numbers a lot — big-format tile needs more thinset for full coverage, while tight joints use less grout. This tool gives a starting estimate; round up to whole bags.
Why buy from the same lot or batch?
Tile color and size shade slightly from one production run to the next, so mixing batches can leave a visible stripe across a floor. Buy all your tile, including the waste, at once and check the lot number on the boxes. Ordering a little extra also means matching tile on hand if a piece cracks years later.
How do I figure how many tiles I need?
Divide the area by the coverage of one tile, then add waste and round up to whole tiles — and usually whole boxes. A 12×12 in tile covers 1 ft², so an 80 ft² floor is 80 tiles before waste, about 88 with 10%. This calculator does that math and reports the count for you.
Should I subtract cabinets or fixtures from the area?
Subtract large fixed areas you will not tile under, like a tub footprint or a run of base cabinets, but keep the math simple and do not chase every small cutout. Leaving a little extra in the area is fine — it just folds into your waste cushion. When in doubt, measure the open floor or wall you actually plan to cover.
How do I use the Tile Calculator?
Just type your numbers. The answer shows up right away — there is no button to press. Change anything and it updates by itself.
Is it free? Does it work without internet?
Yes to both. It is free with no sign-up, and once the page has loaded it keeps working even with no internet.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere — every calculation runs on your own device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, logged, or stored.
Common Use Cases
Tiling a floor
Convert room square footage into tile count, thinset, and grout for a bathroom or kitchen floor.
Planning a backsplash
Size small mosaic or 4×4 tile for a kitchen backsplash and estimate the cost.
Pricing a tile job
Multiply the tile count by your price per tile to budget the material before you commit.
Allowing for a diagonal or pattern layout
Bump the waste percentage so a diagonal or herringbone install does not leave you short.
Ordering setting materials
Get a thinset and grout bag count alongside the tile so you buy everything in one trip.
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