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Tile Calculator

Count the tiles for a floor or wall and get thinset and grout estimates, with a cutting-waste allowance included.

Live · tile calculator

How many tiles do I need?

Enter the area and tile size; we add waste and estimate setting materials.
Tiles to buy

How this calculator works

We convert your tile size to square feet, divide the area by it, then add waste and round up. Setting materials are estimated from the area.

  • Tile area = (width × height) ÷ 144 sq ft
  • Tiles = ceil(area ÷ tile area × (1 + waste))
  • Thinset ≈ one 50 lb bag per ~95 sq ft (¼" trowel)
  • Grout ≈ 0.5 lb per sq ft for typical joints

Thinset and grout coverage swing with trowel size, tile size and joint width, so treat those as buy-to-start figures and keep the receipt for returns.

Frequently asked questions

How much extra tile should I buy?

Add 10% for a standard straight layout, 15% for diagonal or large-format tile, and up to 20% for mosaics and intricate patterns. Buy it all in one dye lot — colours drift between batches.

How much thinset and grout will I need?

As a rough start, one 50 lb bag of thinset covers about 95 sq ft with a ¼-inch trowel, and grout runs near half a pound per square foot for typical joints. Larger tiles use less grout; smaller tiles and wide joints use more.

Do wall tiles use the same math?

Yes — enter the wall\u2019s length and height instead of a floor\u2019s dimensions. Just remember to subtract large openings like a window or niche if they take up a big share of the wall.

What size notched trowel changes the estimate?

A bigger trowel lays a thicker bed and uses more thinset, so large-format and uneven tiles consume more than the estimate. Check the thinset bag for the coverage at your trowel size.

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Turn this estimate into a whole-project plan

The Home Renovation Project Manager rolls every calculator into one budget — room by room, with a shopping list, contractor quote comparison and a live over-budget warning.

Budget vs actual for every room
Material lists that build your shopping cart
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