Measure the tile area
For a rectangular floor or wall, multiply length by width to determine the total area in square feet.
Calculate the area of one tile
When tile dimensions are given in inches, multiply tile length by tile width to find square inches, then divide by 144 to convert to square feet.
Calculate the basic tile quantity
Example with 12 × 12 inch tiles
A 12 × 12 inch tile covers approximately one square foot. A 120-square-foot rectangular room therefore requires about 120 tiles before allowing for cuts or breakage.
How much extra tile should you allow?
Waste depends on the room shape, tile pattern, tile size and installer layout. Straight layouts in simple rooms generally create less waste than diagonal layouts or detailed patterns.
- Include additional material for cut tiles.
- Allow for occasional breakage or defects.
- Complex patterns can increase offcuts.
- Matching spare tiles can be useful for future repairs.
Tile boxes and package coverage
Many tiles are purchased by the box rather than individually. Once the adjusted square footage is known, divide it by the square-foot coverage per box and round up.
Tile sizes are often nominal, and grout-joint layouts can affect real coverage slightly. For purchasing, use the coverage specified on the product packaging.