Tile Calculator
Estimate tile coverage and whole boxes before you buy, so you can plan your floor or wall project with less guesswork.
- 2026 figures, checked October 26, 2026
- Private: runs in your browser
- How we check our work
Result
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Verify before you act: review these results with a licensed contractor, engineer or the local building department before making any decision based on them.
Suggestions for your numbers
Updated as you type, from your inputs only. General information, not personal advice; confirm any change with a qualified professional.
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What is a tile calculator?
A tile calculator estimates how many boxes of tile you need for a floor or wall. This floor tile calculator uses your project area, a waste allowance, and the coverage listed on each box.
If you enter length and width, the calculator can work from those measurements. Or enter the total area directly. The result is rounded up to a whole box, so it does not leave you with a fraction of a box to purchase.
Why a tile calculator matters
Buying too little can interrupt installation if you need to get more tile. Buying more than you need can tie up money in leftover boxes. An estimate helps you plan the purchase before you start.
The result also helps you compare products with different box coverage and prices. Check the coverage printed on the product packaging, since the area covered by a box is what drives the estimate.
How to use this tile calculator
- Enter the length and width of the area in feet. If you already know the area, enter it in the total area field instead. Use the measurements for the parts you intend to tile.
- Enter the coverage per box from the product packaging. Make sure the unit is square feet, to match the calculator.
- Choose a waste allowance. The existing guidance is 10% for straight lays and 15% or more for diagonal and herringbone layouts.
- Enter a price per box if you want to include box price in your project planning. Check the displayed estimate before ordering.
Tile calculator example
Worked example
With Length 12 ft, Width 10 ft, Or total area 0 sq ft, Coverage per box 10.76 sq ft, Waste 10%, and Price per box $0, the area is 120 sq ft. Adding 10% waste gives 132 sq ft. Dividing by 10.76 sq ft per box and rounding up gives 13 boxes, matching the sample result.
How to read your tile calculator result
Area to cover is the project area before waste. With waste is the area after the selected allowance is added. Coverage per box is the amount of area one box can cover, based on the value you entered.
Boxes needed is the rounded-up number of boxes. Treat it as a planning estimate. Before purchasing, confirm your measurements and the coverage on the exact tile you chose. Tile sizes, cuts, layout, and installation conditions can affect how much you use.
How to make your tile estimate more useful
- 01
Measure the area you will actually tile
Measure each section carefully. If part of a room will not be tiled, calculate the net area before entering it as a total. For an irregular space, divide it into simpler sections, calculate their areas, and add them.
- 02
Match the waste allowance to the layout
A straight layout and a diagonal or herringbone layout can leave different amounts of offcut. Use the calculator’s waste field to reflect your chosen pattern, and ask your installer if you are unsure.
- 03
Check the box details before buying
Compare the calculator’s coverage input with the packaging for the tile you plan to buy. If you are comparing options, enter each product’s coverage and price per box to see how the box count and expected spending may differ.
Common tile calculator mistakes
Entering dimensions in the wrong units
The length and width fields are in feet, and the coverage field is in square feet. Convert your measurements before entering them if they are in another unit.
Leaving out waste
Cuts and layout can mean you use more tile than the measured area alone suggests. Choose a waste allowance rather than treating the area to cover as the final purchase amount.
Using coverage for a different product
Coverage varies by box. Use the coverage on the packaging for the tile you are buying, not a value from another product.
The tile formula
Boxes = area x (1 + waste) / coverage per box, rounded up.
Key terms
- Area to cover
- The measured floor or wall surface you plan to tile, before adding waste.
- Coverage per box
- The square footage one box of the selected tile is listed to cover.
- Waste allowance
- Extra tile area added to the measured area to account for cuts and layout.
Tile questions
How much extra tile should I buy?
10% for straight lays, 15% or more for diagonal and herringbone.
Can I use this calculator for a wall?
Yes. Enter the wall’s length and height as the two dimensions, or enter the total wall area. Include only the surfaces you plan to tile.
Does the calculator tell me how many individual tiles I need?
It estimates boxes based on coverage per box. It does not calculate an individual tile count from tile dimensions.
Should I keep leftover tile?
Consider keeping suitable leftover tile for future repairs. Store it safely and keep the product information with it so you can identify the tile later.
Before you act on this result. Cordwell calculators and guides are educational estimates, not legal, tax, investment, lending or other professional advice. They rely on the numbers you enter and on simplified rules, and they can't see your full situation. Before you file, sign, borrow, invest, hire, change your withholding or form a business based on anything here, meet with a licensed contractor, engineer or the local building department who can review your specific facts and confirm the numbers. Rules change, and official agency guidance always controls.