Tile Calculator

How many tiles do I need? Divide room area (length × width in feet) by each tile’s area in square feet — tile inches × tile inches ÷ 144 — then multiply by (1 + waste%) and round up for tiles and boxes. A 10×10 ft area with 12×12 inch tiles and 10% waste needs 110 tiles — 11 boxes at 10 per box. Works for floors or walls.

Reviewed / updated August 2026

Full walkthrough: How to Estimate Materials for Any Home Project

Your inputs

ft
ft
in
in
count
%

10% is common for straight layouts; use more for diagonals

Result

Tiles to buy

110

11 boxes

Tiles needed
110
Boxes
11
Area incl. waste
110 sq ft

For this floor or wall area with 10% waste, plan on 110 tiles (~110 sq ft incl. waste) — 11 boxes after rounding up.

10% vs 15% waste

WasteTilesBoxes
10%11011
15%11512

Suggested next steps

  • Order about 10–15% extra for cuts and breakage, and keep a few spares from the same dye lot for future repairs.
  • Busy patterns, diagonals, or many niches may need closer to 15% waste than a straight grid.
  • Dry-lay a few rows to confirm layout before thinset so cut edges land in less visible spots.

How the tile calculation works

Whether you are tiling a floor or a wall, start with the rectangular area in feet, then convert each tile from inches to square feet:

  1. Area = length × width (sq ft)
  2. Tile sq ft = (tile length in × tile width in) ÷ 144
  3. Tiles = ceil((area ÷ tile sq ft) × (1 + waste ÷ 100))
  4. Boxes = ceil(tiles ÷ tiles per box)

Waste covers edge cuts, breakage, and grout joint reality—nominal tile size is slightly generous versus installed coverage. Straight grids often use 10%; diagonals and many niches lean toward 15%. Order a little extra and keep spares from the same dye lot so future chip repairs still match.

Source note: Nominal tile size ignores grout joint width; waste helps cover joints and cuts. Confirm tiles-per-box on the carton. Updated August 2026.

Worked example

Area 10 × 10 ft, tiles 12 × 12 in, 10 per box, 10% waste:

  1. Area = 100 sq ft
  2. Tile = 144 ÷ 144 = 1 sq ft each
  3. Tiles = ceil(100 × 1.10) = 110
  4. Boxes = ceil(110 ÷ 10) = 11

Defaults match this example. Compare 10% vs 15% waste in the what-if table to see how patterned layouts change the order. Dry-lay a few rows before thinset so cut edges land where they are least visible. Factor thinset, grout, and spacers as separate line items once the tile and box counts are locked.

Tips and related tools

Frequently asked questions

How many 12×12 tiles for a 10×10 room?

Each 12×12 tile covers 1 sq ft. With 10% waste: ceil(100 × 1.10) = 110 tiles. At 10 tiles per box that is 11 boxes.

How many tiles per square foot?

Tiles per sq ft = 144 ÷ (tile length inches × tile width inches). A 12×12 tile is 1 per sq ft; a 6×6 tile is 4 per sq ft. See our guide on tiles per square foot for a cheat sheet.

Is 10% waste enough?

Straight layouts often use about 10%. Diagonals, mosaics, and many niches may need 15%. Order extra for cuts and breakage and keep spares from the same dye lot.

Does this work for wall tile?

Yes — enter the wall area’s length and height (or width) in feet the same way you would a floor. Deduct large windows separately if you want a tighter count.

Should I buy an extra box?

Keeping one spare box (or several tiles) from the same lot is smart for future chip repairs. Shade lots change over time and may not match later purchases.

Related tools

Related calculators — live tools and upcoming pages for internal linking.