Tile Calculator
- Materials
- Labor
- Profit
Buy all boxes from the same lot number so the color matches, and keep a few spare tiles for future repairs.
Turn this into a quote
A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.
How the tile calculation works
Measure the area in square feet
Length × width for floors, or width × height for walls and showers. A 10 × 8 ft bathroom floor is 80 sq ft.
Add waste for cuts and breakage
Use 10% for a straight lay and 15–20% for diagonal or patterned layouts. 80 sq ft plus 10% is 88 sq ft.
Divide by the size of one tile
A 12 × 12 in tile is 1 sq ft, so 88 sq ft needs 88 tiles. A 12 × 24 in tile is 2 sq ft, so the same area needs 44.
Round up to whole boxes and price the job
88 tiles at 10 per box is 9 boxes. Multiply the square feet you buy by the price, add setting materials, labor and markup for the quote.
Worked example. A 10 × 8 ft floor is 80 sq ft. With 10% waste you need 88 tiles of 12 × 12 in, or 9 boxes of 10 (90 sq ft) at $3 per sq ft = $270, plus $60 of thinset and grout. Labor at $8 per sq ft is $640, and a 20% markup adds $194, so the installed price to quote is $1,164.
Tile FAQ
How many tiles do I need?
Divide the area in square feet, plus waste, by the area of one tile. 80 sq ft plus 10% waste with 12 × 12 in tiles needs 88 tiles.
How much extra tile should I buy?
Tile makers such as Daltile and Arizona Tile suggest about 10% extra, or 10–15% as a rule of thumb. Use more for diagonal or herringbone layouts and small rooms with many cuts; MSI adds 20% for diagonal installs. Keep the leftovers, from the same lot, for repairs.
How do I calculate tile for a backsplash?
Multiply the length of the counter run by the height to the cabinets, then add waste. A 10 ft run that is 1.5 ft high is 15 sq ft, or 16.5 sq ft with 10% waste. With 3 × 6 in subway tile (0.125 sq ft each) that is 132 tiles.
How do I calculate tile for a shower?
Work out each wall as width × height, add them up, and subtract the door opening or niche. Calculate the floor and any accent strip separately if they use a different tile.
How much should I charge for tile installation?
Add tile, setting materials, your labor (per sq ft or per hour) and a markup for overhead and profit. Labor rates vary a lot by region and tile size, so price from your own hours on similar jobs.
How many boxes of tile do I need?
Divide the number of tiles by the tiles per box and round up. Some boxes list square feet instead; divide your area plus waste by that figure.
Do grout lines change how many tiles I need?
Only slightly. Each grout joint makes a tile cover a little more area, so ignoring the joints builds in a small extra margin.
How much thinset do I need?
Check the coverage chart on your mortar's data sheet. For CUSTOM VersaBond, a 50 lb bag covers 85–95 sq ft with a 1/4 × 1/4 in square-notch trowel and 60–67 sq ft with a 1/4 × 3/8 in notch. An 80 sq ft floor needs 1 bag with the smaller notch and 2 with the larger one. Larger tiles may need a bigger notch and back-troweling, which uses more.
How much grout do I need?
Grout use depends on tile size, joint width and joint depth, so use the grout maker's coverage chart or calculator. LATICRETE advises adding 10% for waste, spillage and clean-up, and another 10–15% for unglazed quarry tile. Enter the grout cost in the thinset, grout and trim field.
Sources: Daltile: Tile and stone FAQs (buying extra tile) · Arizona Tile: How much extra tile to buy · MSI: How much wall tile do I need · CUSTOM Building Products: VersaBond thin-set mortar data sheet (TDS-119) · LATICRETE: Project estimator (grout waste)