Primary tile
11 boxes
Floor or wall tile boxes
Use the calculated box count as a buying starting point, then verify square feet per carton, dye lot, and return rules.
Tile calculator
Tile calculator for boxes, grout, thinset, and layout waste.
Estimate floor tile boxes from room size, tile size, grout joint, layout pattern, waste allowance, grout coverage, and thinset coverage before building a shopping list.
Quick reference
Tile for common floor sizes
12 x 12 in tile in a straight layout with the default waste, plus grout and thinset bags at typical coverage.
| Floor size | Area | Tiles | Boxes | Grout bags | Thinset bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 ft | 40 sq ft | 44 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 80 sq ft | 88 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 x 12 ft | 120 sq ft | 132 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 159 | 11 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 x 20 ft | 300 sq ft | 330 | 22 | 2 | 7 |
Diagonal and patterned layouts need more waste than a straight grid.
Quick tile checks
Common rooms and patterns
8 x 10 bath, 12 x 24 tile
6 boxes
92 sq ft with waste
46 tiles, 1 grout bag(s)
12 x 12 kitchen, 12 x 12 tile
11 boxes
158 sq ft with waste
159 tiles, 1 grout bag(s)
5 x 8 bath, mosaic sheets
5 boxes
48 sq ft with waste
48 tiles, 1 grout bag(s)
Shopping list
Compare tile boxes, grout, thinset, and install tools
Joint fill
1 bags
Tile grout
Grout coverage changes with tile size, joint width, and product type. Use the product label or a manufacturer calculator before checkout.
Setting material
4 bags
Thinset mortar
Mortar coverage depends on tile size, substrate, and trowel notch. Check the bag coverage chart for the final order.
Install tools
Spacers, trowel, cutter, and leveling clips
Tile projects often need spacers, the correct notched trowel, buckets, sponge, cutter, and optional leveling clips.
Formula shown
How the tile estimate works
Floor area
floor area = length x width + extra area
Tile count
tiles to buy = ceil((floor area x (1 + waste)) / tile square feet)
Tile boxes
tile boxes = ceil(required square feet / square feet per box)
Layout grid check
tiles across = ceil(room inches / (tile inches + grout joint))
Sources
- Lowe's Tile Flooring Calculator — tile estimating workflow and extra trim/waste context
- Best Tile tile calculator guide — straight, diagonal, and complex-layout waste guidance
- The Home Depot square footage guide — length times width square-foot formula
- MAPEI tile grouts calculator — manufacturer grout-coverage calculator and overage note
- CUSTOM Building Products materials calculator — manufacturer calculator for tile and stone installation materials
Sources checked
Checked against
Box coverage, waste factors, and cost ranges checked against retailer calculators and published cost guides.
How we check our numbersLast updated: June 22, 2026
Estimate only.
This calculator is not a quote. Verify product yield, price, delivery minimums, and local conditions with your supplier or contractor before buying materials.
Waste area
14 sq ft waste
Cut and breakage allowance before box round-up.
Layout positions
144 layout tiles
Room grid based on tile size and grout joint.
Purchased coverage
165 sq ft purchased
Whole boxes multiplied by box coverage.
Extra after round-up
21 sq ft extra after box round-up
Useful for breakage, future repair, and dye-lot matching.
Flooring hub
Need a simpler flooring box estimate?
Use the general flooring boxes calculator for laminate, vinyl plank, hardwood, or any product where carton coverage is the main buying input.
FAQ
Tile calculator questions
Quick answers for tile boxes, layout waste, grout coverage, thinset, and shopping-list planning.
How many boxes of tile do I need? + -
Measure the floor area, add a waste allowance for cuts and breakage, then divide by the square feet covered by one tile box. Round up because tile is sold by full cartons.
How much extra tile should I buy? + -
A straight layout often starts around 10% extra. Diagonal layouts, herringbone, mosaics, many doorways, and rooms with lots of corners commonly need 15% to 20% or more.
Does grout joint width change the tile count? + -
The buying count should still be based on floor area and box coverage. Joint width is useful for layout checks, grout planning, and seeing how many tile positions fit across the room.
How accurate is the grout bag estimate? + -
Use it as a planning number only. Grout coverage changes with tile size, joint width, joint depth, product type, and jobsite conditions, so verify the final count with the grout manufacturer calculator or bag chart.
Should I calculate thinset separately from tile boxes? + -
Yes. Thinset coverage depends on the trowel notch, tile size, substrate, and how flat the floor is. The calculator gives a shopping-list estimate, but the bag coverage chart should control the final order.