Tile Calculator: How Many Boxes Do You Need?

Boxes = area x (1 + waste) / square feet per box, rounded up. Enter the area, box coverage, and layout pattern to get boxes with the waste factor for that pattern applied. Same model as the SiteScope app.

1 Area to Tile

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

2 Tile & Box

Tile Width (inches)

Tile Height (inches)

Presets:

Coverage per box (sq ft)

Printed on every tile box. Set to the product you're ordering.

3 Layout & Complexity

Layout Pattern

Industry-typical waste factors. Diagonal and interlocking patterns need more cuts, so more waste.

Wall / Room Complexity

Attic stock / extra (%)

Optional spare boxes for future repairs. Many pros keep 5 to 10%.

Results

Net area

Layout waste

Complexity

Total waste applied

Area with waste

Tiles per box (approx)

Boxes to order

boxes

Coverage purchased

Order all boxes from the same lot / shade. Tile from different lots can vary in color and size.

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Wallpaper job?

Get strip count and rolls with pattern repeat applied.

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Also need paint?

Gallons per coat with surface and primer adjustments.

These estimates use the same waste-factor model as the SiteScope app. Actual quantities depend on tile size, layout, substrate, and installer technique. Always verify with your supplier before ordering.

How to Calculate Tile Boxes

Measure the area, add waste for the layout pattern and the room's cuts, then divide by the square feet per box printed on the carton and round up. Angled and interlocking layouts leave more offcuts, so they need a higher waste factor than a straight grid.

Worked example: 12 x 10 ft floor, 15.5 sq ft per box

Area: 12 x 10 = 120 sq ft
Straight lay, 10% waste: 120 x 1.10 = 132 sq ft
Boxes: 132 / 15.5 = 8.5, round up to 9 boxes

The same floor in herringbone (20% waste) needs 144 sq ft, or 10 boxes. Add a moderate complexity allowance (+5%) and it is still 10 boxes, at 150 sq ft.

Measuring the room first? See how to measure a room for flooring, or get the area with the square footage calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boxes of tile do I need?

Multiply the area by 1 plus your waste percentage, divide by the square feet per box printed on the carton, and round up. A 12 x 10 ft floor (120 sq ft) laid straight with 10% waste is 132 sq ft. At 15.5 sq ft per box that is 8.5, so 9 boxes.

How much extra tile should I buy for waste?

Common defaults: about 10% for a straight grid, 15% for a brick or running-bond offset, 20% for diagonal, herringbone, or chevron, and 25% for Versailles. Add more for rooms with lots of jogs, niches, or angles. These are industry rules of thumb, not a standard, so adjust for your layout and tile size.

Why use box coverage instead of tile size?

Tile is sold by nominal size, but the actual size is often slightly smaller (a "12 x 24" can measure about 11.8 x 23.6 in). The square feet per box on the carton accounts for that, so it gives the truer count.

Should I keep extra tile after the job?

Many pros leave 5 to 10% as attic stock so a cracked tile can be replaced from the same lot later. Use the attic stock field to add it on top of layout waste.

Does this calculator work for wall tile and backsplashes?

Yes. Switch to area mode and enter the wall area in square feet, minus any windows or cabinets it will not cover. For showers with niches and benches, set complexity to complex.

See it in the app

Assign tile to any surface from a 3D scan.

In SiteScope, scan a room and assign tile to floors or walls. The takeoff applies the right waste factor for your layout pattern and wall complexity, then totals boxes, cost, charge, and margin across the whole project.