Running short on tiles halfway through is a nightmare. Get exact tile count — including waste — for any room and tile size. Know how many boxes to buy.
Tiles = (Floor Area ÷ Tile Area) × (1 + Wastage%) | Boxes = Ceiling(Tiles ÷ Pack Size)The number of tiles required is the total floor area divided by the area of a single tile, then multiplied by (1 + wastage percentage) to account for cuts and breakage. The number of boxes to purchase rounds up (ceiling function) the total tiles divided by the tiles per box, since partial boxes cannot be bought.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Floor Area | Length × Width of the floor (m²) |
| Tile Area | Single tile area (converted from cm to m²) |
| Wastage% | Extra tiles for cuts and breakage (as a decimal, e.g., 10% = 0.10) |
| Pack Size | Number of tiles per box |
Our calculations are based on established financial and scientific formulas. The following sources inform the default values and methodology used in this calculator:
Quick reference for how many tiles you need for standard room sizes. All estimates include 10% waste for straight-lay patterns. For diagonal patterns, add 15% waste instead.
| Room Size | Area (sq ft) | Tile Size | Tiles Needed | With 10% Waste | Boxes (8 per box) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5x8 ft (Bathroom) | 40 | 12x12 in | 40 | 44 | 6 |
| 10x12 ft (Small Room) | 120 | 12x12 in | 120 | 132 | 17 |
| 12x12 ft (Bedroom) | 144 | 18x18 in | 64 | 70 | 9 |
| 15x20 ft (Living Room) | 300 | 24x24 in | 75 | 83 | 11 |
| 20x20 ft (Garage) | 400 | 12x24 in | 200 | 220 | 28 |
Always buy tiles from the same batch (dye lot) to avoid color variations. Keep 1-2 extra boxes for future repairs — discontinued tile patterns can be impossible to match. This calculator handles the exact math for any room and tile size.
The cheapest flooring material upfront is not always the most affordable over time. This table compares total cost including installation, maintenance, and expected lifespan for common flooring types.
| Flooring Type | Material Cost/sq ft | Installation Cost/sq ft | Total Cost/sq ft | Lifespan | Cost per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $1-5 | $2-4 | $3-9 | 15-25 years | $0.20-0.50/yr |
| Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) | $2-7 | $2-5 | $4-12 | 20-30 years | $0.20-0.45/yr |
| Engineered Hardwood | $4-12 | $3-6 | $7-18 | 25-40 years | $0.25-0.55/yr |
| Solid Hardwood | $5-15 | $4-8 | $9-23 | 50-100 years | $0.15-0.35/yr |
| Carpet | $1-6 | $2-4 | $3-10 | 8-15 years | $0.30-0.85/yr |
| Ceramic Tile | $2-15 | $4-8 | $6-23 | 50-100 years | $0.12-0.35/yr |
| Natural Stone | $5-20 | $5-10 | $10-30 | 75-100 years | $0.15-0.40/yr |
While carpet and laminate have the lowest upfront costs, ceramic tile and solid hardwood offer the lowest cost per year of use due to their long lifespans. For a 200 sq ft room, choosing tile ($20/sq ft installed, 75-year life) over laminate ($6/sq ft, 15-year life) costs $2,800 more upfront but saves $2,000+ over 75 years. Use the flooring-tile calculator to accurately estimate materials for your project.
Almost every tile order ends in one of two mistakes: not buying enough and living with a dye-lot mismatch, or buying far too much. Measuring correctly and applying the right overage percentage solves both.
Worked example: a 10 × 12 ft bathroom floor is 120 sq ft. With 12×12 tiles in a straight lay, that is 120 tiles plus 10% = 132, plus the spare box = about 144 tiles. The same floor laid diagonally needs 120 + 15% ≈ 138, plus the spare box. The calculator above applies the waste percentage you choose to the exact area, including cutouts for toilets and vanities if you subtract them.
Ordering concrete is expensive — too little means a split pour, too much means wasted money. Calculate the exact cubic yards for slabs, footings, or columns. Cement ratios included.
How many bricks for that wall? And how much mortar? Enter your wall dimensions and brick size — we'll calculate the bricks, mortar volume, and bags of cement needed. 5% waste included.
Roofing material math is tricky — pitch changes everything. Enter your roof dimensions and get shingle bundles, squares, and underlayment rolls. Waste included so you don't come up short.
Too much mulch is a waste of money, too little looks unfinished. Get the exact amount — in bags or cubic yards — for your garden beds. Enter dimensions and depth, and we'll tell you what to buy.
Roof pitch affects everything — material choice, cost, and even which roofing types are allowed. Calculate your slope in degrees or rise-to-run, then check the minimum pitch for metal or shingles.
Rates verified 2026-10-09 · Sourced from official seller fee schedules