Count the tiles for a floor or wall. Enter the area and the tile size.
How the tile calculator works
A 12 x 10-foot floor is 120 square feet. With 12 x 12-inch tiles, each face covers 1 square foot. A 10% example allowance gives 132 tiles. At 10 tiles per box, 132 / 10 = 13.2, so 14 boxes. The last box is rounded up separately from the tile count.
Tile face area (sq ft) = tile length x tile width in inches / 144.
Tiles = round up [room area x (1 + extra percent / 100) / tile face area].
Boxes = round up [whole tile count / tiles per box]. Leave tiles per box blank if you only want a piece count. Use actual face dimensions, not a rounded nominal size.
The calculation uses area, not rows and columns. It does not plan grout joints, edge cuts, shared offcuts, mixed-size patterns or mosaic sheets. Those details can change the purchasing quantity. Check the carton coverage and a real layout before using the estimate as an order list.
Choose an allowance for cuts
Tile America says 10% extra is sufficient for most standard installations, 15% for rooms with many jogs and corners, and recommends consulting the installer for elaborate patterns such as diagonal or herringbone.1 Best Tile describes about 10% as typical and suggests 15% for diagonal installations or rooms with many jogs and corners.2 These are supplier estimating guidelines, not guarantees or a building-code requirement.
The calculator starts at 10% as an editable example. Fragile materials, pattern matching and selective blending need a project-specific allowance. Extra material kept for future repairs is a separate choice; it is not added invisibly to the result. Add the chosen percentage before rounding to whole tiles.
Free tile-count chart for 100 square feet
Our calculations use a 100-square-foot area, a 10% example allowance and the stated face dimensions. Grout joints are ignored. Tile sizes are examples, and no box size is assumed.
| Actual tile size | Face area | Base area quotient | Tiles with 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 in | 0.1111 sq ft | 900.0000 | 990 |
| 6 x 6 in | 0.2500 sq ft | 400.0000 | 440 |
| 12 x 12 in | 1.0000 sq ft | 100.0000 | 110 |
| 12 x 24 in | 2.0000 sq ft | 50.0000 | 55 |
| 18 x 18 in | 2.2500 sq ft | 44.4444 | 49 |
| 24 x 24 in | 4.0000 sq ft | 25.0000 | 28 |
Three checked examples
1. A 12 x 10-foot floor with 12-inch square tiles
Area: 12 x 10 = 120 square feet. Face area: 12 x 12 / 144 = 1 square foot. Base quotient: 120 / 1 = 120. With 10%: 120 x 1.10 = 132 tiles. At example 10 tiles per box: 132 / 10 = 13.2, round up to 14 boxes containing 140 tiles.
2. An 8 x 5-foot floor with 12 x 24-inch tiles
Area: 8 x 5 = 40 square feet. Each tile: 12 x 24 / 144 = 2 square feet. With 10%: 40 x 1.10 / 2 = 22 tiles. At example 8 tiles per box: 22 / 8 = 2.75, round up to 3 boxes containing 24 tiles. This does not prove an edge-cut layout fits into 22 pieces.
3. A 10 x 8-foot wall with 6 x 6-inch tiles
Area: 10 x 8 = 80 square feet. Each tile: 6 x 6 / 144 = 0.25 square foot. With an example 15% allowance: 80 x 1.15 / 0.25 = 368 tiles. At example 20 tiles per box: 368 / 20 = 18.4, round up to 19 boxes. This wall example has no doors, windows or niches; the allowance is a selected input, not an automatic wall recommendation.
Measure floor and wall sections separately
For an L-shaped floor, split it into nonoverlapping rectangles and add their areas. For a wall, measure the sections that will receive tile. The current form accepts one rectangle; it does not subtract openings or total several walls automatically. You can use the formula above for a measured net total.
Do not confuse surface area with exposed-edge length. Bullnose and trim need a separate linear takeoff. Tile America gives the example of a 10-foot exposed edge: 120 inches / 6-inch bullnose = 20 pieces, before your chosen extra.1 Our box output covers the main field tile only, not trim, grout, mortar, backer board or waterproofing.
Tile dimensions, cartons and mosaic sheets
A tile sold as 12 x 12 inches may have a different actual face size. Enter the measured or specified dimensions, and check the manufacturer’s listed carton coverage. Grout adds spacing to the layout, but this area model does not deduct it. A tile-by-tile count and a box-coverage estimate can differ if you use nominal dimensions.
For mosaics, a sheet is not the same as one small tile. This tool does not model sheet mesh gaps or count individual mosaic pieces on a sheet. Use the carton’s sheet coverage for a coverage-based takeoff instead. Mixed-size patterns require counts for each size from the pattern plan. Do not enter an average tile size and expect a shopping list.
Turn the tile count into a quote
Our planning checklist: use the same tile, measured surfaces and layout when comparing quotes. A field-tile count is not a complete installation scope, and a price per square foot does not explain what is included.
- Keep pieces and coverage separate. Record the tile dimensions, pieces per carton, printed carton coverage, chosen extra percentage and whole-carton order count. Ask the supplier to confirm the takeoff against the actual product and layout.
- Price trim separately. List exposed edges, corners, niches and transitions. Ask for the trim product, lengths or piece counts and price rather than assuming the field-tile allowance covers them.
- Define the installation materials. Ask which mortar, grout, backer or uncoupling layer, waterproofing and sealant are included. The calculator does not choose those materials or verify the installation design.
- Define preparation and labor. Ask who handles removal, disposal, substrate preparation and repairs. State the tile pattern and areas receiving tile. Ask how extra preparation discovered during the job will be approved and priced.
- Check the order terms. Confirm product code, color, stock, delivery charges, tax and return rules for unopened cartons. Ask whether replacement material will match the original order before relying on a later top-up.
Use our home-improvement budget and quote checklist to compare included work, exclusions and changes. These are our comparison prompts, not promises about a supplier’s stock, return policy or installation method.
FAQ
How many 12 x 12-inch tiles for 100 square feet?
If the actual face is exactly 12 x 12 inches, the base area quotient is 100. With a 10% example allowance, buy 110 tiles before carton rounding. Grout and edge cuts still need a layout check.
Why must tiles per box be a whole number?
This field counts pieces, not square feet. Enter 8 for a carton containing eight field tiles. A value such as 15.5 square feet belongs in a coverage-based calculation, not this pieces-per-box field. Blank skips the box calculation; zero or a fraction is rejected.
Can I enter metric dimensions?
Yes. The metric switch converts room dimensions to meters and tile dimensions to centimeters. Tiles per box and extra percent stay unchanged. Equivalent US and metric inputs should give the same tile and box counts.
Does the calculator include grout or mortar?
No. It counts tiles and optional boxes only. Grout and mortar coverage depend on the product and installation details. The result does not specify trowel size, joint width or the preparation needed for a floor or wet-area wall.
Related tools and guides
How many tiles do I need for a floor?, flooring box calculator, laminate box guide, paint calculator.
Sources
- Tile America: Calculate Square Footage (supplier guidance; standard allowance, corners, patterns and bullnose takeoff)
- Best Tile: Tile Calculator (supplier guidance; waste varies by layout and room geometry)
What you’ll need
A plain checklist. Needs vary by project, so follow the instructions on your materials.
- Tile spacers – keep grout lines even.
- Notched trowel – sized to your tile, as the thinset label says.
- Thinset mortar and grout – check the coverage on the bag.
- Tile cutter or wet saw – for edge cuts.
- Level or straightedge – to keep the surface flat.
- Grout float and sponge – for finishing.
- Knee pads – the job is long on your knees.
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Estimates only. Confirm quantities and product details with your supplier before you order.