1. Measure tiling area
Measure length and width of the floor or wall surface in feet.
What is tile square footage?
Tile square footage is the total floor or wall area receiving tile. Measure length × width of each surface in feet and sum the areas. Add 10-15% extra for cuts and breakage. See the flooring calculator for mixed-material rooms or the bathroom calculator for wet-area tile.
Getting started
How to Calculate Square Footage for Tile
To calculate tile square footage, measure length and width of the tiled surface in feet. Apply length × width for area. Add 10% for straight layouts or 15-20% for diagonal patterns. Divide total by box coverage and round up to full boxes.
2. Add 10-15% waste factor
Add 10% for straight layouts or 15-20% for diagonal or pattern installations.
3. Convert to boxes
Divide total square footage (with waste) by coverage per box. Round up to the next full box.
Quick reference
Reference
1 acre = 43,560 square feet
1 square yard = 9 square feet
1 square meter = 10.764 square feet
1 square inch = 0.00064516 square feet
Material pricing
Calculate Cost of Materials
Tile installation costs $7-25 per sq ft installed. Multiply tile square footage by price per box and divide by box coverage for total tile cost.
There are 2 steps to calculate material cost:
- Enter the price per box of tile and the square footage each box covers (printed on the box label).
- The Square Foot Calculator divides total area by box coverage and multiplies by box price for tile cost.
A 100 sq ft floor needs 110-115 sq ft of tile. Order 1-2 extra boxes from the same dye lot for repairs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate how many tiles I need?
Measure the area in square feet (length x width), add 10-15% for waste, then divide by the area per tile. For example, a 60 sq ft floor with 12x12 inch tiles (1 sq ft each) needs about 66 tiles (60 x 1.10).
How much tile do I need for a 10x10 bathroom?
A 10x10 bathroom needs 100 square feet of tile plus 10-15% waste = 110-115 sq ft. That is approximately 5-6 boxes of tile if each box covers 20 sq ft.
How do I calculate tile for walls?
Measure wall height x wall width for each wall, subtract window and door areas, then add all walls together. Add 15% waste for wall tile because vertical cuts and edge pieces create more waste.
How much extra tile should I buy?
Buy 10% extra for straightforward rectangular floors, 15% for diagonal layouts or complex patterns, and 20% for small mosaic tiles. Keep leftover tiles for future repairs.
How do I calculate tile cost?
Multiply total square footage (with waste) by price per square foot. If tile costs $3.50/sq ft and you need 115 sq ft, material cost is $402.50. Add $5-15/sq ft for professional installation.
How many 12x24 tiles do I need per square foot?
Each 12x24 inch tile covers 2 square feet. Divide your total square footage by 2 to get the number of tiles. A 100 sq ft floor needs 50 tiles of this size, plus waste.
REFERENCES
Further Reading & References
Trusted external sources and related sections on this site. External links open authoritative references on Wikipedia and government agencies.
Explore this Square Foot Calculator site
Authoritative external references
- WIKITile — Wikipedia
- WIKICeramic tile — Wikipedia
- WIKIGrout — Wikipedia