Tile Calculator
Calculate how many tiles you need for a floor, including a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.
Why a waste allowance is necessary
Tiles rarely fit a room perfectly — edges, corners, and around fixtures like doorways or cabinets require cuts, and some cut pieces will break or be unusable. A 10% waste allowance is standard for straight tile layouts, but more complex patterns (diagonal layouts, herringbone) often warrant 15-20% to account for the additional cuts involved.
It's better to over-order slightly than to run short mid-installation — dye lots can vary between production batches, so a tile ordered later to complete a shortfall may not match perfectly.
Tile size and layout considerations
Larger tiles generally mean fewer grout lines and a more seamless look, but also more waste when cutting around irregular room shapes, since each cut piece represents a bigger loss of material compared to smaller tiles.
For rooms with alcoves, closets, or unusual angles, it's often more accurate to break the space into simple rectangular sections and calculate each separately, then sum the totals, rather than using one overall room measurement.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy extra tiles beyond the waste allowance?
Many installers recommend keeping a few extra tiles beyond even the waste-adjusted total for future repairs, since matching discontinued tile lines later can be difficult or impossible.
Does tile layout pattern affect how many tiles I need?
Yes — diagonal or complex patterns like herringbone typically require a higher waste allowance (15-20%) than a simple straight grid layout (10%), due to the additional angled cuts involved.