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Tile Calculator

Calculate the number of tiles and boxes required for a floor or wall, with wastage allowance for cuts and breakages.

Enter your values

m
m

Check the box label; varies by tile size

%
5 %25 %
Tiles Required
62
16 boxes (64 tiles)
Floor Area
20 m²
Tiles (without wastage)
56
Wastage Allowance
6 tiles
Total Boxes
16
Coverage Per Tile
0.36 m²

* 10% wastage is standard for straight-cut floor tiles. Add 15-20% for diagonal patterns or complex layouts.

* Buy from the same batch number to avoid colour variation between boxes.

Quick answer

The calculator divides your floor or wall area by the tile size, adds a wastage allowance for cuts, and rounds up to whole boxes. Standard sizes (300×300, 600×600, 800×800 mm) are pre-loaded.

What is Tile?

Tile estimation comes down to: how much area, what size tile, and how much extra to allow for cuts at edges. The math is simple division, but the tricky part is the wastage allowance — 10% for straight-cut floor tiles, more for diagonal layouts or rooms with many corners.

Tiles are sold in boxes. The number of tiles per box depends on the size — 4 tiles per box of 600×600, 9 per box of 300×300. The calculator rounds up to whole boxes since you can't buy partial.

Always keep 1-2 spare boxes after the project. Tile colour batches change over time — matching exact shades for repairs after a few years can be impossible.

Area ÷ tile size, rounded up to boxes

Formula
Tiles = ⌈ (Area ÷ tile_area) × (1 + wastage) ⌉ Boxes = ⌈ Tiles ÷ tiles_per_box ⌉
Area
Floor or wall areaL × W in m²
tile_area
Per-tile areatile L × W in m²
Worked example
Floor5 m × 4 m = 20 m²
Tile600 × 600 mm
Wastage10%
Tile area = 0.36 m²
Tiles needed = 20 / 0.36 = 55.5 → 56
With 10% wastage: 62
If 4 tiles/box: ⌈62/4⌉ = 16 boxes (64 tiles)
62 tiles needed → buy 16 boxes (64 tiles)

How to use this calculator

Enter the area, pick tile size and box count, set wastage.

  1. Enter floor or wall area

    Length × width in metres. For multi-room layouts, calculate each room separately.

  2. Pick tile size

    Common: 300×300, 600×600, 800×800, 1000×1000 mm. Larger tiles = fewer joints + faster laying but higher wastage on cuts.

  3. Enter tiles per box

    Check the box label — varies by tile size. 600×600 typically 4 per box. Calculator rounds up to whole boxes.

  4. Set wastage

    10% standard, 15-20% for diagonal layouts or rooms with many corners and cuts.

Common tile projects

Bathroom walls + floor

Calculate walls and floor separately. Different tile sizes are common (smaller on walls, larger on floor).

Living room floor

Most common project. Big-format tiles (800×800 or 1000×1000) for fewer joints; smaller (600×600) for easier handling.

Kitchen backsplash

Small mosaic or 200×200 tiles for visual interest. Higher waste % due to small cuts.

Outdoor patio / verandah

Anti-skid tiles, often 300×300 vitrified. Calculator works the same way.

Glossary

Vitrified tile
Highest-density ceramic tile — water-resistant, durable. Common for floors.
Wastage
Buffer % to account for cuts at edges, breakages during laying, and trim pieces.
Batch number
Manufacturing batch identifier on each box. Same batch = same colour shade.

Frequently asked questions

How much wastage should I add for tiles?
10% for straight-cut, simple layouts. 15-20% for diagonal patterns, intricate designs, or rooms with many corners. Less for very small areas (the box-rounding is already a buffer).
Should I buy extra tiles even after the project?
Keep 1-2 spare boxes for future repairs. Tile colour batches change over time and matching exact shades after a few years can be impossible.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide. They are not professional advice. For consequential decisions — financial, tax, medical, or legal — verify with a qualified professional.

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