Tiles are bought by the box, used by the piece and sold in batches that can differ in shade. Getting the quantity right the first time avoids mismatched floors.
Floor Tiles
| Step | Example: 12 × 12 ft room, 2 × 2 ft tiles |
|---|---|
| Floor area | 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft |
| Tile area | 2 × 2 = 4 sq ft |
| Tiles | 144 ÷ 4 = 36 |
| Wastage (10%) | 36 × 1.1 = 39.6 → 40 tiles |
Wall Tiles
| Step | Example: bathroom 6 × 8 ft, tiled to 7 ft, one 3 × 7 ft door |
|---|---|
| Perimeter | 2 × (6 + 8) = 28 ft |
| Wall area | 28 × 7 = 196 sq ft |
| Less door | 196 − 21 = 175 sq ft |
| Tile 1 × 1.5 ft = 1.5 sq ft | 175 ÷ 1.5 ≈ 117 |
| Wastage (10%) | ≈ 129 tiles |
Wastage Guide
| Layout | Add |
|---|---|
| Straight, large room | 5 – 8% |
| Straight, small room with many cuts | 10% |
| Diagonal or herringbone | 12 – 15% |
| Large-format tiles | 10%+ (cuts are costly) |
Adhesive, Grout and Skirting
- Adhesive: manufacturer's coverage per bag for your tile size.
- Grout: from joint width, tile size and maker's tables.
- Skirting: room perimeter minus door widths, in running feet.
The Short Version
Area ÷ tile area, plus 5–15% depending on layout; convert to whole boxes from one batch; keep spares.
