Tile & Flooring Coverage Calculator
Enter your room size and tile dimensions to find out exactly how many tiles and boxes to buy, with a live cutting layout diagram. Includes a waste buffer for cuts and breakages. Nothing uploaded.
Tile quantity, cutting layout, and waste calculations
How to account for tile waste and cuts
Tiles are cut at edges and corners, creating waste. The standard waste buffer is 10% for rectangular rooms with straight layouts. Complex shapes (L-rooms, diagonal patterns, small tiles) need 15-20%. Larger tiles (over 60 × 60 cm) need less waste because fewer cuts are required. This calculator includes the 10% buffer automatically, but always buy extra tiles - breakage during cutting, delivery damage, and future repairs need spares.
Understanding tile layout and grout lines
Grout lines (the gaps between tiles) affect coverage. Standard grout is 3-4 mm wide, which can add 1-2% to the actual total area when calculated precisely. This calculator uses the nominal tile size (e.g. "30 × 30 cm") without subtracting grout, which is the standard industry approach and matches how manufacturers calculate coverage. If you want extreme precision, subtract 0.3-0.4 cm from each tile dimension before calculating.
FAQ
Why is my tile count estimate higher than other calculators?
Different calculators handle rounding and waste differently. Some round down (pessimistic), some round up (safe). This tool rounds up to ensure you have enough tiles. If another calculator says 100 tiles, this one might say 105 - that's 5 spares, which is exactly what you want for breakage and repairs.
What if I use different tile sizes in the same room?
Calculate each tile size separately and add the quantities together. Mixing tile sizes requires a more careful layout plan - this calculator handles one size at a time. For accent stripes or borders, manually subtract the accent area from the main area, calculate both separately, then add quantities.
How many tiles come in a box and how do I know how many boxes to buy?
Boxes vary by tile manufacturer and size. Small tiles (10 × 10 cm) might have 100 tiles per box; large tiles (60 × 60 cm) might have 4-6 per box. The calculator assumes you know your box count from the product spec. Divide total tiles needed by tiles per box and round up to the nearest box.