Tile Calculator
Enter the area and tile size to find out how many tiles you need, including cutting waste.
Your measurements
See how we calculated this
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Your tiling order
- Confirm tile size, laying pattern, joint width, allowance and tiles per box.
- Use the adhesive maker’s coverage for the required trowel, tile and substrate.
- Estimate grout separately and check that the grout and float suit the tile finish.
Tools for this job
Laying and grouting are separate stages. These tools cover grouting and adhesive work in small spaces, rather than a complete tiling kit.
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- Work grout into tile joints
Grout float
QEP 10060 rubber grout float
For working grout into the joints after tiles are installed. Choose a float suitable for your grout and tile finish, and follow the grout maker's instructions.
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Small notched trowel
QEP 42114 square-notch margin trowel
A narrow adhesive trowel for confined areas, with 1/4-inch square notches. Use it only where that notch size meets the adhesive and tile requirements; it is not a universal size for every tile.
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Already have suitable tools? Reuse them. These are optional product suggestions, not a complete equipment list or a hands-on comparison. Amazon may redirect Amazon.com links to local products or search results. Amazon.nl links search for alternatives, which may differ in brand, size and specification. Check suitability, seller, delivery and any import costs on your chosen store before ordering.
How to work out how many tiles you need
- Measure the room at its widest points and multiply length by width. For an L-shape, split it into rectangles and add the areas together.
- Enter the nominal tile size from the box: 600 x 600, 300 x 600, 200 x 200, and so on.
- Pick your grout joint. On a 600 mm tile a 3 mm joint takes the count from 2.78 to 2.75 tiles per m²; on a 100 mm mosaic the same joint changes the count by nearly 6%.
- Choose the layout. Diagonal and herringbone patterns generate far more offcuts than a straight bond.
- Add tiles per box if you know it, and the calculator rounds up to whole boxes, which is how tiles are actually sold.
The formula
The joint is added to both tile dimensions because each tile occupies its own footprint plus one joint on two of its sides. This is called the module or laying size, and it is the figure a tiler works from.
Worked example
A 4 m x 3 m kitchen floor = 12 m², tiled with 600 x 600 mm porcelain and a 3 mm joint, straight bond.
Module = 0.603 m x 0.603 m = 0.3636 m². 12 ÷ 0.3636 = 33.0, which rounds up to 34 tiles before waste. Add 10% to the unrounded quantity and round up = 37 tiles. At 4 tiles per box that is 10 boxes, leaving 3 spare.
Tiles per square metre by size
| Tile size (mm) | Tiles per m² | Tiles per 10 m² (+10% waste) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 x 100 | 94.3 | 1,038 |
| 150 x 150 | 42.7 | 470 |
| 200 x 200 | 24.3 | 268 |
| 300 x 300 | 11.0 | 121 |
| 300 x 600 | 5.5 | 61 |
| 450 x 450 | 4.9 | 54 |
| 600 x 600 | 2.75 | 31 |
| 800 x 800 | 1.55 | 18 |
| 1200 x 600 | 1.38 | 16 |
How much waste should you allow?
- 10%: straight or brick bond in a simple rectangular room. This is the industry default.
- 15%: diagonal layouts, small bathrooms, or any room with lots of alcoves, pipe boxing and door thresholds.
- 20%: herringbone, chevron and modular patterns, where almost every perimeter tile is cut twice.
- Add 5% more for natural stone or heavily patterned tiles, where you will reject some tiles on appearance alone.
Do not forget the rest of the job
Tiles are only part of the order. For a typical floor you also need adhesive (roughly 4 to 6 kg per m² with a 10 mm notched trowel), grout, tile trim for exposed edges, spacers, and a suitable primer or decoupling membrane on the substrate.
Our grout calculator works from the same tile size and joint width you entered here.
Sources and assumptions
The count divides area by the repeating tile-and-joint module, adds a cutting allowance and rounds up. It is an area estimate rather than a drawing of every full tile and edge cut.
- Topps Tiles: how many tiles per square metre?: The retailer explains measuring and deducting areas and allowing 10% for cuts and breakages, or 10 to 15% for brick bond.
Before using this estimate
- The 15 to 20% options for complex layouts are planning allowances. Lay out the actual pattern before placing a large order.
- Confirm whether the dimensions on the box are the actual tile size or a nominal module that already includes a joint. Entering a joint twice can reduce the estimate incorrectly.
Source notes reviewed . See how we check calculations and handle corrections.
Planning your order
Check the inputs before buying: measure the surfaces you need, then apply an allowance and round to whole packs. The guides include worked examples you can follow alongside this calculator.
Published by OrderEnough. This is a planning estimate: check the product specification and the assumptions above before ordering. Last updated . Read how we source our figures on the methodology page.