Tile & Flooring
Square footage with waste factor
How to Use the Tile & Flooring Calculator
Calculate exactly how many tiles you need for your flooring or wall project. Our calculator accounts for waste factor to ensure you have enough tiles to complete your project without running short.
Why Include Waste Factor?
A 10% waste factor is standard for most tile projects. This accounts for cuts at edges, broken tiles, future repairs, and pattern matching. Increase to 15% for diagonal patterns or complex layouts.
Tile Size Considerations
Larger tiles generally mean less grout and faster installation, but may require more cuts. Smaller tiles are better for floors with drains or complex shapes. Our calculator supports common sizes from 6" to 24" tiles.
Pro Tips
- Always order all tiles from the same lot for color consistency
- Keep extra tiles for future repairs
- Consider tile orientation and pattern before calculating
- Don't forget to calculate thinset, grout, and spacers separately
Frequently Asked Questions
Divide your room square footage by the tile size in square feet, then add 10% for waste. For a 100 sq ft room using 12x12 inch tiles (1 sq ft each), you need 100 tiles plus 10 extra = 110 tiles. Increase waste factor to 15% for diagonal patterns.
Calculate each wall separately by multiplying height by width. A standard 3x4 foot shower with 8-foot ceiling walls needs approximately 92 square feet of wall tile, plus floor area. Add 15% waste factor for cuts around fixtures and corners.
Medium-sized tiles (12x12 or 12x24 inches) work best in small bathrooms - they have fewer grout lines, making the space appear larger. Avoid very large tiles that require many cuts, or very small tiles that create visual clutter.
Coverage depends on trowel notch size. With a 1/4-inch notch trowel, a 50-pound bag covers about 100 square feet. With a 1/2-inch notch (for large tiles), coverage drops to 40-50 square feet. Always check manufacturer specifications.
Grout coverage varies by tile size and joint width. Generally, 25 pounds of sanded grout covers about 100 square feet of 12x12 tiles with 1/8-inch joints. Larger tiles or wider joints require more grout. Unsanded grout is used for joints under 1/8 inch.
Large tiles (18x18 or larger) are trending and require less grout maintenance. They work well on level floors but are harder to install on uneven surfaces. Small tiles conform better to slopes (like shower floors) and are easier for DIY installation.