Tile Calculator
EverydayCalculate tiles needed for any room with custom tile size, wastage allowance, and box count. Enter room dimensions to get exact tile and box quantities instantly.
Room Dimensions
12 ft
1100
10 ft
1100
Tile Size
12 in
148
12 in
148
Wastage Allowance
12 tiles
150
Tiles Needed
—
incl. 10% wastage allowance
Boxes
—
Base Tiles
—
Room Area
—
Wastage Tiles
—
Common Tile Sizes
12×12 in — Standard floor
18×18 in — Large floor
24×24 in — XL format
4×8 in — Subway / wall
What is a Tile?
A tile calculator computes the exact number of floor or wall tiles required for a room based on the room's dimensions, the tile dimensions, a wastage allowance for cuts and breakage, and the number of tiles per box. Tiling projects are notorious for miscounting — buy too few tiles and you face a mid-job trip back to the store, risking a batch mismatch; buy too many and you have overspent on material you cannot return.
In Indian home construction and renovation, tiles are the dominant flooring choice — vitrified tiles, ceramic tiles, and marble effect tiles cover the vast majority of residential floors and bathrooms. Understanding how many tiles a room needs before placing an order is essential to accurate project budgeting and scheduling.
The Tile Calculator works in feet for room dimensions (the measurement unit most Indian builders and clients use for room sizes) and inches for tile dimensions (because individual tile sizes are typically expressed in millimetres or inches). It outputs not just the raw tile count but the number of boxes you need to buy, account for per-box quantities. The Square Footage Calculator is a useful companion for confirming room area, while the Concrete Calculator helps with the screed base below the tiles.
How to use this Tile calculator
- Enter Room Length and Room Width — measure your room in feet and decimal fractions (e.g., 11.5 ft for 11 feet 6 inches). Include the full floor area; you can deduct fixed fixtures like bath, WC base, or kitchen island later if needed.
- Enter Tile Length and Tile Width — enter tile dimensions in inches. Convert from millimetres by dividing by 25.4 (600 mm ÷ 25.4 = 23.62 in). Enter decimal values freely.
- Set Wastage Percentage — use 10% for a simple rectangular room, 15% for rooms with obstacles or a diagonal pattern, 20% for herringbone or complex designs. Use the preset buttons for common values.
- Enter Tiles per Box — this is printed on the box. Enter the count for your chosen tile to get the box quantity. Adjust to compare boxes of different sizes.
- Read the result — note the Tiles Needed and Boxes Needed. Round up your order if needed and buy one extra box as a future repair reserve.
Formula & Methodology
Room Area (sq ft) = Room Length (ft) × Room Width (ft) Tile Area (sq ft) = (Tile Length in ÷ 12) × (Tile Width in ÷ 12) Base Tiles = ceil(Room Area ÷ Tile Area) Tiles Needed = ceil(Base Tiles × (1 + Wastage % ÷ 100)) Boxes Needed = ceil(Tiles Needed ÷ Tiles per Box) Wastage Tiles = Tiles Needed − Base Tiles Worked example: A bedroom in a Bengaluru flat measures 14 ft × 12 ft. The owner has chosen 600×600 mm (23.62×23.62 inch) vitrified tiles, which come in boxes of 4 tiles. A 10% wastage allowance is applied. - Room Area = 14 × 12 = 168 sq ft - Tile Area = (23.62 ÷ 12) × (23.62 ÷ 12) = 1.968 × 1.968 = 3.87 sq ft - Base Tiles = ceil(168 ÷ 3.87) = ceil(43.4) = 44 tiles - Tiles Needed = ceil(44 × 1.10) = ceil(48.4) = 49 tiles - Boxes Needed = ceil(49 ÷ 4) = 13 boxes (52 tiles) - Wastage Tiles = 49 − 44 = 5 tiles The owner should purchase 13 boxes of 4 tiles (52 total), giving a comfortable buffer of 3 extra tiles beyond the wastage allowance for future repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tiles do I need for a 10×10 ft room with 12×12 inch tiles?
A 10×10 ft room has 100 sq ft. A 12×12 inch tile covers 1 sq ft, so you need a minimum of 100 tiles. With a standard 10% wastage allowance for cuts and breakage, order 110 tiles. If tiles come in boxes of 12, that means 10 boxes (120 tiles), which gives a comfortable buffer.
How do I calculate how many tiles I need?
Divide the total floor area by the area of one tile. If your room is 15 ft × 12 ft = 180 sq ft and each tile is 18×18 inches (2.25 sq ft per tile), you need 180 ÷ 2.25 = 80 tiles before wastage. Add 10–15% for cuts and breakage, giving 88–92 tiles.
What wastage percentage should I use for tile installation?
A 10% wastage allowance is standard for a straightforward rectangular room with a straight-lay pattern. Use 15% for rooms with multiple obstacles (columns, alcoves, bathroom fittings) or diagonal tile layouts, which produce more off-cuts. For herringbone or complex patterns, 20% is recommended.
What is the formula for calculating tiles needed?
Tiles Needed = ceil(Room Area ÷ Tile Area × (1 + Wastage Percentage ÷ 100)). Room Area = Room Length × Room Width. Tile Area = (Tile Length in inches ÷ 12) × (Tile Width in inches ÷ 12) in square feet. The result is always rounded up to the nearest whole tile.
How many tiles fit in a standard box in India?
The number of tiles per box depends on the tile size and the manufacturer. Common Indian tile packs contain 6–15 tiles. Large-format tiles (600×600 mm or 800×800 mm) often come 4–6 per box; smaller mosaic or wall tiles may have 40–80 per box. Check the box label for the exact count and enter it in the Tile Calculator to get a box count.
How do I calculate tiles for a bathroom floor with an irregular shape?
Break the bathroom into regular sections (rectangle, half-circles around the WC) and calculate the tile count for each section separately, then add them together. Apply the full wastage allowance to the combined total since irregular shapes produce more cuts. The [Square Footage Calculator](/square-footage-calculator/) can help you measure non-rectangular floor areas.
Should I buy extra tiles beyond the wastage allowance?
Yes — always buy a few extra tiles from the same production batch, even beyond your wastage estimate. Tile colours and textures can vary slightly between batches. If you need to replace a cracked tile in future and the original batch is discontinued, an exact match may be impossible to source.
What tile size is best for a small room in India?
For small rooms under 100 sq ft (such as bathrooms), 300×300 mm or 400×400 mm tiles are commonly used as they require less cutting around fixtures. Larger 600×600 mm or 800×800 mm tiles can make a small room appear bigger but produce more wastage. For living rooms and halls over 150 sq ft, 600×600 mm or 800×800 mm tiles are the current preference in Indian construction.
How do I convert tile sizes from mm to inches for the calculator?
Divide millimetres by 25.4 to get inches. A 600×600 mm tile is 600 ÷ 25.4 = 23.62 inches per side. A 300×600 mm tile is 11.81 × 23.62 inches. Enter these values in the Tile Length and Tile Width fields of the calculator. The calculator accepts decimal values, so 23.62 is valid.
Is grout spacing included in tile calculations?
The Tile Calculator calculates based on the tile dimensions alone and does not subtract grout gap width. In practice, the 1.5–3 mm grout gap between tiles is so small relative to tile size that it has negligible effect on the tile count. Including wastage more than compensates for any minor discrepancy introduced by grout spacing.
How do I estimate the cost of tiling a room?
Multiply the box count by the cost per box to get the material cost. Add tiling labour, which in India typically runs ₹25–₹60 per sq ft for standard floor tiles depending on tile size, pattern complexity, and city. Adhesive and grout add approximately ₹8–₹15 per sq ft. Use your room area output from this calculator as the base for all these estimates.