Overview
This tile calculator converts the tile dimensions into area, adds the waste you set aside for cuts, edge pieces, and breakage, then rounds everything up to whole tiles and whole boxes. That makes it useful when you need a purchase figure for a bathroom wall, a kitchen floor, or a terrace with awkward cuts. If your layout includes diagonal lines, niches, stair edges, or small offcuts around pipes and corners, the waste setting matters even more. The result shows the total coverage you should plan for, not just the visible surface area, so you can order with a realistic reserve and avoid stopping work mid-project because of missing material.
Use cases
- Bathroom wall layoutWork out tiles for shower walls, vanity splash zones, and boxed-in pipe areas where many cuts are needed.
- Kitchen floor orderEstimate the exact quantity for a kitchen floor that includes a pantry corner, door recess, or appliance gaps.
- Terrace purchase planningPlan tiles for an outdoor terrace and include extra material for edge trimming and weather-related breakage.
- Box count check at the storeCompare your required tile count with box size so you can buy full cartons instead of loose pieces.
- Diagonal pattern planningAdd a larger reserve when the installation uses a diagonal or herringbone layout with more offcuts.
How it works
- 1
Enter the surface area in square meters.
- 2
Type the tile width and height in centimeters.
- 3
Set the waste percentage for cuts and breakage.
- 4
Add how many tiles are in one box.
- 5
Read the total tiles, boxes, and coverage to purchase.
Examples
Bathroom wall estimate
Input: Area: 18 m², tile size: 25 x 40 cm, waste: 12%, tiles per box: 10
Output: Tile area: 0.10 m². Purchase area with waste: 20.16 m². Rounded up: 202 tiles, 21 boxes.
Shows a realistic wall order with a higher reserve for cut pieces.
Kitchen floor with large-format tiles
Input: Area: 9.5 m², tile size: 60 x 60 cm, waste: 8%, tiles per box: 4
Output: Tile area: 0.36 m². Purchase area with waste: 10.26 m². Rounded up: 29 tiles, 8 boxes.
Useful when the box count is driven by large tile size and rounding.
Terrace with many edge cuts
Input: Area: 27.4 m², tile size: 20 x 20 cm, waste: 15%, tiles per box: 25
Output: Tile area: 0.04 m². Purchase area with waste: 31.51 m². Rounded up: 788 tiles, 32 boxes.
Illustrates how small tiles and a higher reserve affect the order size.
FAQ
Does the calculator use the visible room area or the total surface to be tiled?
Use the actual surface that will receive tiles. If there are openings, recesses, or built-in fixtures, subtract only the areas you truly will not tile.
Why can the box count look higher than expected?
Boxes are rounded up after the tile count is calculated. Even if you need only part of the last carton, you still have to buy the whole box.
What happens if my tile size is given in millimeters?
Convert it to centimeters first, or use the same unit consistently. If you mix units, the final quantity will be wrong.
How much waste should I set for a simple straight layout?
Use a smaller reserve for uncomplicated layouts and a larger one when cuts, diagonal placement, or pattern matching increase offcuts.
Can I rely on the result when tiles are sold by square meter instead of by piece?
Yes. The calculator still helps because it gives the purchase area with waste. You can compare that number with the coverage shown on the packaging.