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Tile Calculator: Estimate Tiles, Boxes and Waste

Plan tile purchases from project dimensions, tile size and a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.

Project measurements

Change the defaults to match your project and the product you plan to buy.

Project length

Project width

Tile length

Tile width

Waste allowance

Tiles per box

Price per box (optional)

Project result

Your tile purchase plan

Translate project area and tile size into pieces, boxes, purchased coverage and expected overage.

Open Project Planner →

Planning estimate only. Verify product coverage, package size, supplier specifications and project requirements before purchasing.

Methodology

Formula & assumptions

Project area

project length × project width

For rectangular floors, walls or backsplash sections.

Area with waste

project area × (1 + waste %)

Waste covers cuts, breakage and layout losses.

Tile count

area with waste ÷ area of one tile

Tile dimensions are converted from inches to square feet for the calculation.

Box count

round tile count up ÷ tiles per box

Boxes are rounded up because partial boxes generally cannot be purchased.

How to measure this project

Measure each rectangular section separately when a room has alcoves, islands or offsets, then add the areas together. Tile dimensions are nominal product dimensions; if the manufacturer publishes box coverage, use that label value to cross-check the result.

Before you buy materials

A 10% waste allowance is a common planning start for simple straight layouts. Diagonal layouts, herringbone patterns, small spaces with many cuts, fragile tile or future-repair stock can justify more. When color variation matters, buying the full project quantity from one production lot can reduce mismatch.

Reference

Tile waste planning reference

Layout / condition	Planning allowance	Why
Simple straight layout	~10%	Routine cuts and breakage.
Diagonal layout	~15%	More perimeter cuts and offcuts.
Patterned layout	15% or more	Pattern alignment can create unusable pieces.
Repair reserve	Add separately	Keep matching tile for future repairs if desired.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is tile grout included?

No. This calculator estimates tile pieces and boxes only; grout, mortar, underlayment and trim have separate coverage rules.

Should I use tiles per box or square feet per box?

Use the package information you trust most. This tool uses tiles per box together with the tile dimensions, so compare the calculated box coverage with the manufacturer label.

Can I use the calculator for wall tile?

Yes for rectangular wall sections. Measure the tiled width and height as the project length and width, and exclude openings when their size is significant.

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