Tile Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the tile calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Floor Area
total_area = floor_areaTiles (no waste)
tiles_no_waste = ceil(floor_area / tile_area_sqft)Tiles Needed
tiles_with_waste = ceil(floor_area / tile_area_sqft * (1 + waste_percent / 100))Boxes (approx, 10 tiles/box)
boxes = ceil(floor_area / tile_area_sqft * (1 + waste_percent / 100) / 10)Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
area_length | Area Length(feet) | 12 |
area_width | Area Width(feet) | 10 |
tile_length | Tile Length(inches) | 12 |
tile_width | Tile Width(inches) | 12 |
waste_percent | Waste Factor(%) | 10 |
floor_area | Derived value= area_length * area_width | calculated |
tile_area_sqft | Derived value= (tile_length * tile_width) / 144 | calculated |
How It Works
How to Calculate Tiles Needed
Formula
Tiles = Floor Area / Tile Area × (1 + Waste %)
Convert tile dimensions from inches to feet (divide by 12) to get tile area in sq ft, then divide the total floor area by the tile area. Add 10% waste for straight layouts and 15% for diagonal layouts.
Worked Example
A 12 ft by 10 ft bathroom floor with 12×12 inch tiles and 10% waste.
area_length = 12area_width = 10tile_length = 12tile_width = 12waste_percent = 10
- 01Floor area = 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft
- 02Tile area = 12 × 12 / 144 = 1.00 sq ft per tile
- 03Tiles needed = 120 / 1.00 = 120 tiles
- 04With 10% waste = 120 × 1.10 = 132 tiles
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Tile Calculator