How It Is Calculated
This tile calculator helps you estimate how many tiles you need for a rectangular area and what they will cost. The calculation follows a straightforward process:
- Total area: Multiply the area length by the area width to get the total square footage.
- Tile area: Convert tile dimensions from inches to square feet by multiplying length and width in inches, then dividing by 144 (since 1 square foot = 144 square inches).
- Tiles before waste: Divide the total area by the tile area to get the number of tiles needed without accounting for waste.
- Tiles to buy: Add the waste factor to the tiles needed, then round up to the nearest whole tile because you cannot buy a fraction of a tile.
- Waste tiles: Subtract the tiles needed (before waste) from the tiles to buy to see how many extra tiles you are purchasing.
- Total cost: Multiply the tiles to buy by the price per tile.
A = L × W (total area in ft²)
B = (l × w) / 144 (tile area in ft²)
N = A / B (tiles needed before waste)
P = ceil(N × (1 + F/100)) (tiles to buy)
E = P − N (waste tiles)
C = P × R (total cost)
All intermediate values are kept with full precision until the final rounding step. The outputs are rounded to the number of decimal places shown.
Assumptions
- The area to be tiled is a single rectangle.
- Tiles are laid in a simple grid pattern without diagonal cuts or complex layouts.
- The waste factor accounts for cuts, breakage, and future replacements.
- Tile dimensions are nominal and do not account for grout lines.
- Price per tile is constant for all tiles.
Worked Example
Suppose you have an area that is 10 ft long and 10 ft wide, and you plan to use 12-inch by 12-inch tiles. The waste factor is 10%, and each tile costs $2.00.
First, calculate the total area: A = 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 ft².
Next, the tile area: B = (12 in × 12 in) / 144 = 1 ft².
So, tiles needed before waste: N = 100 ft² / 1 ft² = 100 tiles.
With a 10% waste factor, tiles to buy: P = ceil(100 × (1 + 10/100)) = ceil(110) = 111 tiles.
Waste tiles: E = 111 − 100 = 11 tiles.
Total cost: C = 111 × $2.00 = $222.
So, you would need to buy 111 tiles, which will cost $222 in total.
Practical Tips
- Always measure the area carefully, and consider adding extra waste if your layout involves many cuts (e.g., around corners or fixtures).
- Buy all tiles at once to ensure they come from the same batch, as color can vary between batches.
- Keep a few extra tiles after installation for future repairs.
- If you are also planning other home improvement projects, you might find our paint calculator or concrete calculator useful.