Tiles
Tile Calculator
Enter the area and your tile size to get the number of tiles, the wastage allowance and the boxes to buy.
Results update as you type. Nothing to sign up for.
Measurements
Material
Printed on the box. Leave at 1 if you buy tiles singly.
You need approximately
8boxes
of tiles to buy
Area to tile
10m²
Tiles for the area
56
With wastage
62
Tiles you will buy
64
Area and tile size
- Area to tile
- 10 m²
- One tile
- 0.18 m²30 × 60 cm
- Tiles to cover the area
- 55.6before cuts and breakages
Tiles and boxes
- Tiles needed, rounded up
- 56
- With 10% wastage
- 62
- Tiles per box
- 8
- Boxes to buy
- 8
- Tiles in those boxes
- 642 spare tiles
What to buy
Tiles 30 × 60 cm
8 boxes — 64 tiles
2 spare after wastage
Want a cost too?
Add your prices in the cost section of the form. We never guess prices — a made-up figure is worse than none.
How to measure an area for tiles
- Measure the length and width of each rectangular surface, then add their areas together.
- Split L-shapes, alcoves and returns into rectangles rather than measuring one oversized box.
- Check the tile dimensions and the number of tiles per box on the packaging before ordering.
Metric: Enter the surface in metres and tile dimensions in centimetres or millimetres.
Imperial: Enter surface and tile dimensions in feet or inches; the calculator converts both to a common area.
How to work out how many tiles you need
- Measure the length and width of the area you are tiling and multiply them for the area.
- Multiply the tile width by the tile height for the area of one tile.
- Divide the area by the tile area to get the number of tiles.
- Add wastage — 10% for a straight lay, more for diagonal or patterned work.
- Divide by the tiles per box and round up. Boxes are what you actually buy.
Assumptions
These are the defaults behind a new calculation. You can change the relevant values in the calculator; the result always shows the assumptions it used.
Tile waste: 10%
Industry rule of thumb — Suitable for a straight lay; increase it for diagonals, patterns and awkward cuts.
Grout joints: Not deducted
Our default — Ignoring small joints leaves a safer small surplus than ordering too few tiles.
The tile formula
Area = length × width
Tile area = tile width × tile height
Tiles = area ÷ tile area
Tiles with wastage = tiles × (1 + wastage %)
Boxes = tiles with wastage ÷ tiles per box, rounded up
Example: a 4 × 2.5 m floor in 30 × 60 cm tiles
The floor is 10 m² and each tile covers 0.18 m², so you need 55.6 tiles — 56 rounded up. With 10% wastage that is 62 tiles. At 8 tiles a box you buy 8 boxes, which is 64 tiles and leaves 2 spare.
Frequently asked questions
How much wastage should I allow for tiles?
Around 10% for a straight lay in a simple rectangular room. Allow 12–15% for brick bond or diagonal work, and up to 18% for herringbone and patterns. Add a little more if the room has alcoves or many corners.
How many tiles are in a box?
It depends on the tile size — large format 60 × 60 cm tiles often come 4 to a box, while 30 × 60 cm tiles are commonly 8. It is printed on the box, and sometimes given as square metres per box instead.
What is the difference between tiles needed and boxes needed?
Tiles are what the floor takes; boxes are what the shop sells. Because boxes come in fixed counts you almost always end up with a few spare tiles. That is normal, and worth keeping for future repairs.
Do I need to allow for grout joints?
Not really. Joints are usually 2–3 mm and reduce the number of tiles very slightly, so ignoring them leaves you with a little extra rather than too few.
Should I buy all the tiles at once?
Yes. Tiles are made in batches and the colour can shift noticeably between them. Buy your full quantity, wastage included, from one batch.