Quick checks
•
Measure floor, wall, backsplash, or shower areas separately
Tile Calculator
Enter your floor, wall or shower dimensions to estimate tile square footage, tile count, boxes, waste and cost.
Square feet Tile count Boxes and cost
Tile Calculator
Quick tools
Set units once. Reopen recent results anytime.
Scenario presets
Pick the tile job
Start with a floor, backsplash, shower wall, or entryway preset.
Quick checks
•
Convert square footage into tile count and box count
Quick checks
•
Increase waste for cuts, patterns, niches, and fixture openings
Tile workflow
Measure tile areas before you count boxes
Tile orders fail when the area, deductions, waste, and box coverage are not checked as a sequence.
1
Separate each surface
Floors, shower walls, backsplashes, niches, and returns should be measured separately before totals are combined.
2
Subtract real openings
Large windows, doors, or wall openings reduce tile area, while fixtures and small cuts usually still need waste.
3
Convert tile count into boxes
Use the exact product coverage or tiles per box before ordering, because cartons vary by tile size and brand.
Fast tile answers
Start with the tile numbers that change the order
Check area, waste, tile count, and box coverage before buying tile.
10x12 floor example
A 10x12 floor is 120 sq ft. With 15% waste, order for about 138 sq ft.
With 12x24 tile, that is about 69 individual tiles before box rounding.
Tile waste factor
Use 10% for simple backsplashes and 15% for many floors. Use more for showers, diagonal patterns, niches, benches, and many cuts.
Waste covers cuts, breakage, layout choices, and future repairs from the same lot.
Boxes vs tiles
Tile count tells you how many pieces are needed; box count tells you what to buy. Use the exact carton coverage when available.
Carton coverage varies by tile size, thickness, and manufacturer.
How to calculate tile square footage
Measure each tiled surface in feet, multiply length by width, and combine matching areas with the quantity field. Subtract large openings when they will not receive tile. Then add waste before converting area into tiles or boxes.
Tile waste factors by layout
Simple straight layouts may only need about 10% waste. Floor tile and most wall tile often use 15%. Showers, diagonal layouts, herringbone, niches, benches, and rooms with many corners can need more because cuts cannot always be reused.
Tile count vs box count
Tile count is useful for sanity-checking the math, but tile is sold by the box. If the carton lists square feet per box, use that number. If it lists tiles per box, divide the tile count by tiles per box and round up.
Floor tile, wall tile, and shower tile
Floors and walls use the same area math, but the installation risk is different. Shower walls usually need more planning for waterproofing, penetrations, niches, and cuts. Do not reduce waste too aggressively just because the visible area looks simple.
Why tile size changes cut waste
Larger tile covers more area per piece, but it can create more waste in small rooms, narrow backsplashes, and shower layouts. Smaller tile can fit around details more easily, but the box coverage and grout work change.
Cost and installation caveats
The calculator estimates material cost only when you enter price data. It does not include thinset, grout, waterproofing, backer board, leveling clips, trim, tools, or labor. Verify product coverage before buying.
How we checked this page
Written by: TheSiteMath Editorial Team
Reviewed by: TheSiteMath editors (formula, source, and update review)
Last reviewed: 2026-06-23
Publisher:
TheSiteMath
Scope: U.S. construction material estimating, calculator workflows, and project planning guidance for contractors and homeowners.
What we checked:
- • Formulas checked against trade and source material
- • Verified against: Current U.S. material pricing benchmarks, TheSiteMath calculator and content cross-check workflow, Final local code, permit, and supplier verification before purchase
- • Price ranges used for planning, not as fixed quotes
- • Examples checked in the live calculator
Methodology:
- • Example quantities and explanations on this page are cross-checked against the matching live calculator on TheSiteMath.
- • This flooring content is scoped for U.S. planning and estimating workflows, not for stamped engineering or permit approval.
- • We review formulas, material assumptions, and practical steps against category-appropriate references before publishing updates.
- • We refresh pages when calculator logic, supplier assumptions, or pricing guidance materially changes.
- • Readers should confirm final dimensions, structural requirements, and local code obligations with qualified local professionals.
Editorial standards: We review pages before publication and update them when formulas or pricing need a fix. If you spot an issue, please
contact us
.
For our review process, corrections policy, and monetization disclosure, see the Editorial Standards page.
Tile FAQ
Tile quantity questions before you buy boxes
These questions focus on tile area, cuts, deductions, box coverage, and material cost so floors, showers, and backsplashes are easier to order.
How do I calculate tile square footage?
Multiply length by width in feet for each surface, multiply by quantity for repeated areas, subtract large deductions, then add waste before ordering.
How many tiles are needed for a 10x12 room with 12x24 tile?
A 10x12 room is 120 sq ft. With 15% waste, the order area is 138 sq ft. A 12x24 tile covers 2 sq ft, so the estimate is about 69 tiles.
What tile waste factor should I use?
Use about 10% for simple straight backsplash layouts, 15% for many floor projects, and 15-20% or more for showers, diagonal patterns, niches, benches, and many cuts.
Should I calculate by tiles or boxes?
Use tile count to understand coverage, but order by boxes. If the product label gives coverage per box, use that; otherwise use tiles per box.
Do deductions always reduce tile count?
Large openings such as windows and doors can reduce area. Small fixture cuts often do not reduce the order much because the surrounding cuts still create waste.
Does this calculator estimate grout?
No. Grout quantity depends on joint width, tile thickness, tile edge shape, and product coverage. Confirm grout coverage from the product bag or manufacturer chart.
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