Tile Calculator
Estimate whole tiles and boxes from rectangular surfaces, exclusions, waste, actual tile face dimensions, and box count.
Content updated August 5, 2026
Face-area estimate only. Nominal versus actual dimensions, grout joints, layout, cuts, breakage, pattern repeats, trim, movement joints, substrate preparation, and installation rules are not inferred.
Estimate tile for one or more equal rectangular floors or walls. Surface dimensions, tile dimensions, and their units are entered separately, so a room measured in feet can be compared directly with tile faces measured in inches or centimetres.
The calculation subtracts excluded surface area before adding your chosen waste allowance. It then reports exact and whole tile counts plus whole boxes from the package piece count you enter.
The Tile formula
Order area = [(surface length × width × count) − excluded area] × (1 + waste% ÷ 100) · tiles = order area ÷ tile face areaWhole tiles = ceiling(exact tiles) · whole boxes = ceiling(exact tiles ÷ tiles per box).
Worked example
A 10 ft × 8 ft surface has 80 ft². With no exclusions and 10% waste, order area is 88 ft². A 12 in × 12 in tile has a 1 ft² face, so the result is 88 tiles; at 12 tiles per box, round 7.333 boxes up to 8.
Assumptions, rounding, and limitations
Assumptions
- Each counted project surface is an equal rectangle.
- Excluded area is a combined total inside those rectangles and is subtracted before waste.
- Tile length and width are actual face dimensions in the selected tile unit.
- Each box contains the whole-number piece count entered.
Rounding: Areas and exact piece and box quotients retain full floating-point precision. Displays use up to four decimals; whole tile and box counts round upward.
Limitations
- Does not account for nominal versus actual size unless actual dimensions are entered, grout joints, layout modules, cuts, patterns, trim, breakage, lippage, movement joints, substrate, adhesive, or grout.
- Does not verify package coverage, batch or dye-lot matching, stock, installation standards, substrate suitability, or installer requirements.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9: Conversion Factors — National Institute of Standards and Technology
Convert the tile face and surface to one area unit
The calculator converts both sides of the tile face to feet and multiplies them to obtain face area. It separately calculates the net project surface, applies waste, and divides the resulting order area by tile face area.
Use actual face dimensions when they differ from the nominal product name. A tile sold as a nominal size may not have exactly that face dimension, and this tool does not silently add grout-joint width to the tile module.
Piece and box counts answer different questions
The whole-tile result rounds the exact face-area quotient upward. The whole-box result divides the same exact requirement by the entered pieces per box and rounds upward, which can provide more pieces than the standalone tile count.
Waste remains explicit because diagonal layouts, patterns, repeated motifs, cuts, breakage, batch matching, trim pieces, and retained replacements affect real purchasing. Follow the exact product and installer requirements.
Frequently asked questions
▶How does the tile calculator handle different units?
It converts the measured surface and tile face dimensions to square feet internally, then also reports metric surface area.
▶Should I use nominal or actual tile dimensions?
Use the actual face dimensions for the product where available. Nominal names and installed module dimensions can differ.
▶Are grout joints included?
No. The calculation uses tile face area only. Joint width and installed module layout are not inferred and should be checked against the planned layout.
▶Why can boxes provide more tiles than the whole-tile result?
Boxes contain a fixed number of pieces. Rounding the exact requirement up to a whole box can intentionally leave extra pieces.
▶Can I calculate several identical walls?
Yes. Enter one wall's rectangular dimensions and the number of equal surfaces, then subtract the combined excluded area for all counted surfaces.
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Open calculator →Disclaimer: Tile Calculator results are estimates for general information and education only, and are not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.