Floor or wall, any tile size — get the tile count with the right waste factor before you order.
area (sq ft) = length × width with waste = area × (1 + waste %) tiles = ceil( with waste ÷ sq ft per tile ) boxes = ceil( with waste ÷ sq ft per box )
Always order the full amount at once — tile is produced in dye lots, and a top-up order months later can arrive visibly different in shade or size calibration.
| Tile size | Sq ft per tile | Tiles per 100 sq ft (with 10%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3×6″ subway | 0.125 | 880 |
| 6×6″ | 0.25 | 440 |
| 12×12″ | 1.0 | 110 |
| 12×24″ | 2.0 | 55 |
| 24×24″ | 4.0 | 28 |
Add 10% for straight layouts, 15% for diagonal/herringbone patterns or rooms with many cuts, and 20% for natural stone with lot variation. Keep a box of leftovers for future repairs — dye lots change between production runs.
A 12×12 in tile covers exactly 1 sq ft, so 100 sq ft needs 100 tiles plus waste — 110 tiles with a 10% factor.
It varies by size: 12×12 boxes typically hold 10–15 tiles (10–15 sq ft), 12×24 boxes 6–8 tiles (12–16 sq ft). Check the sq ft per box on the label and divide your total (with waste) by it.
For estimating, no — the industry convention is to calculate from tile size alone and let the waste factor absorb the small difference. Grout lines slightly reduce the number of tiles needed, so the estimate stays safely on the high side.
Split it into rectangles, calculate each area separately, and add them. Use this calculator once per rectangle, or add the square footages and use the direct area mode.