Comprehensive Calculator Guide
The number of tiles is the floor area divided by the area of one tile, plus an allowance for cuts and breakage, rounded up. A 20 m² room in 60×60 tiles needs 62 tiles with 10% waste. Enter the area, tile size and allowance to see the count instantly.
How the count works
A 60×60 cm tile covers 0.36 m², a 120×60 covers 0.72 m². A 20 m² room needs 20 ÷ 0.36 = 55.6 tiles in theory; add 10% for waste to get 61.1 and round up to 62, since tiles are not sold in fractions. Split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add them up.
A straight lay usually needs about 10% extra; diagonal or herringbone patterns need 15% or more, and large tiles in small rooms waste more too. Keep a few spare tiles after laying: years later the same shade may be gone.
From tiles to boxes
Tiles are sold by the box, and the pieces per box vary by size and maker. Divide your count by the pieces per box and round up: at 4 tiles a box, 62 tiles need 16 boxes. Buy everything from one production batch, as shade can differ between batches.
How to Use
- 01Enter the floor or wall area in m², or switch to ft².
- 02Enter the tile's length and width in cm, mm or inches.
- 03Enter a waste allowance: 10% for a straight lay, 15% for diagonal.
- 04Read the tile count, rounded up, then divide by the pieces per box.
Formula Used
Tiles = ⌈ area (m²) × 10,000 ÷ (tile length × width in cm) × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ⌉Practical Examples
Example 1: bedroom, 60×60
4 × 5 m = 20 m², 0.36 m² per tile: 55.6 tiles, 62 with 10% waste.
Example 2: living room, 120×60
6 × 5 m = 30 m², 0.72 m² per tile: 41.7 tiles, 46 with 10% waste.
Example 3: diagonal lay
The 20 m² room laid diagonally with 15% waste: 64 tiles instead of 62.
Important Tips
- Count skirting separately: the room's perimeter minus door widths, divided by the piece length.
- Keep a box or a few spare tiles for future repairs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying the net quantity with no allowance.
- Mixing millimetres and centimetres: a 600 mm tile is 60 cm.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many 60×60 tiles per square metre?
- 2.78 before waste. Ten square metres need 27.8 tiles, or 31 with 10% waste.
- What waste allowance should I use?
- About 10% for a straight lay, 15% or more for diagonal and patterned layouts.
- Do I account for grout joints?
- Usually not. Joints are a few millimetres wide and the waste allowance covers them.
- Does it work for wall tiles?
- Yes. Enter the wall area after subtracting doors and windows.