How the tile count is worked out
The room area (length × width) is divided by the area of one tile. The result is increased by your wastage percentage and rounded up to whole tiles. If you enter the tiles per box, it also shows the boxes to buy, rounded up.
Before you buy
- Measure the room in several places, since walls are rarely perfectly square.
- Buy everything from one batch so the colours match.
- Painting as well? See the paint calculator. For other area conversions, use the area converter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many tiles I need?
Divide the floor area by the area of one tile, then add wastage. A 4 m by 3 m room is 12 m². With 60 cm square tiles (0.36 m² each) that is 33.3 tiles, and with 10% wastage you need 37.
How much wastage should I allow?
About 10% for straight laying. Allow 15% for diagonal patterns, awkward rooms, or very small tiles, because there are more cuts.
Does the calculator include the grout lines?
No. Grout lines are small and the wastage allowance covers them. For large tiles with wide joints you can add a little extra.
Can I use it for wood or laminate flooring?
Yes. Enter the plank size as the tile length and width. Boxes of planks are often sold by area, so use the tiles per box figure only if the box is counted in pieces.
Why buy a few spare tiles?
Tile batches can differ slightly in shade. Keeping a few spares from the same batch lets you replace a cracked one later.