About This Calculator
This calculator estimates the number of floor tiles needed for a room, accounting for tile size, grout lines, pattern type, and wastage.
Common Tile Sizes
| Size | Tiles per m² | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 200 × 200mm | 25 | Small bathrooms |
| 300 × 300mm | ~11 | Kitchens, bathrooms |
| 400 × 400mm | ~6 | Living areas |
| 600 × 600mm | ~3 | Large rooms, modern look |
| 300 × 600mm | ~5.5 | Rectangular pattern |
Laying Patterns
- Straight: Standard grid pattern. Least wastage (~5-10%)
- Diagonal: Tiles at 45° angle. More cuts, ~15% extra wastage
- Herringbone: Interlocking pattern. Most wastage (~20%)
Ordering Tips
- • Add 10% for straight patterns, 15% for diagonal, 20% for herringbone
- • Buy all tiles from the same batch to ensure colour match
- • Keep spare tiles for future repairs
- • Check box quantity - usually 5-12 tiles per box
- • Measure carefully - account for fixed fittings (cabinets, etc.)
Grout Lines
Standard grout lines are 2-3mm. Larger tiles may need wider gaps (3-5mm) to accommodate slight size variations. Include grout width in your calculations.
Ready to Calculate?
Enter your room dimensions, tile size, and pattern to get an estimate.
Open CalculatorRelated Calculators
CACalifornia Building Code (Title 24)
References & Sources
Standards Cited
- ANSI A108/A118/A136 — ANSI Standards for Installation of Ceramic Tile
Defines standard tile installation methods, including layout, spacing, and wastage considerations for North American construction - TCNA Handbook — Tile Council of North America — Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation
Industry-standard reference for tile sizing, coverage rates, and installation best practices in North America
Formulas Used
- Effective Tile Area:
tileArea = ((tileLength + gap) / 1000) x ((tileWidth + gap) / 1000)
Source: ANSI A108 / TCNA Handbook — Grout gap is added to each tile dimension to account for joint width - Tiles per m²:
tilesPerM2 = 1 / effectiveTileArea
Source: Industry standard calculation - Total Tiles with Pattern and Wastage:
total = ceil(baseTiles x max(wastageMultiplier, patternMultiplier))
Source: Industry standard practice — The higher of user wastage or pattern wastage is applied (not both). Pattern multipliers: straight 1.0, diagonal 1.15, herringbone 1.20
Key Assumptions
- Diagonal tile laying adds 15% extra wastage for angled cuts — TCNA Handbook / manufacturer guidance
- Herringbone pattern adds 20% extra wastage for complex cuts — TCNA Handbook / manufacturer guidance
- Standard box contains 6 tiles (user should verify with actual product) — Common US manufacturer packaging
- Default 10% wastage for cuts and breakages on straight lay — TCNA Handbook recommended practice
- Common US tile sizes include 12"x12", 12"x24", 6"x24" (plank), and 18"x18" — TCNA Handbook / manufacturer standard sizes