Floor, wall and backsplash tile quantity planning
Tile Calculator
Estimate net tileable area, apply one visible overage allowance, then optionally plan area-equivalent whole rectangular tiles and whole boxes, cartons or packages from your actual product information.
Estimate tile needed
Measure tileable face area → add explicit overage → optionally plan rectangular pieces and packages.
Plan face area before you buy
How the Tile Calculator works
ProjectFigures measures the face area you intend to tile, applies one visible overage allowance, then optionally estimates area-equivalent whole rectangular tiles and whole packages using product information you supply.
How many tiles do I need?
Start with the net floor, wall or backsplash area that will actually receive tile. Add the overage you choose for cuts, breakage, matching or project conditions. If one purchasable tile is rectangular, enter its actual face dimensions for an area-equivalent whole-tile estimate.
Floors, walls and backsplashes use the same face-area math
A rectangle uses length × width. Floor footprints and wall/backsplash rectangles share that face-area calculation. Surface location does not make ProjectFigures select a product, slip rating, waterproofing system, substrate or code method for you.
L-shaped and stepped areas
Split an L-shaped or stepped surface into non-overlapping rectangles and add each section. V1 intentionally avoids polygon, CAD, drawing, camera and AR geometry so the estimate remains transparent and auditable.
Openings and excluded areas
Each rectangular section can either apply no measured exclusion or subtract one measured total excluded area per identical section. ProjectFigures does not invent standard cabinet, window, doorway or fixture sizes.
Known net tileable area
If you already know the net area, use Known Net Area mode. That value is treated as already net of intentional deductions and before overage, so a second exclusion is not applied.
Tile overage and waste
ProjectFigures starts at an editable 10% planning allowance. It is not a universal rule. Pattern, tile format, room shape, corners, breakage and installer/product guidance can change the appropriate allowance. No hidden pattern multiplier is added.
Actual vs nominal tile dimensions
When you use rectangular individual-tile planning, enter the actual tile face width and length when known. A nominal marketing size is not assumed to be exact. The whole-tile result is an area-equivalent estimate, not a guarantee that rows, cuts and offcuts fit a particular layout.
Boxes, cartons and packages
Tile packaging is product-specific. ProjectFigures never assumes one universal tiles-per-box value or one universal square-foot/square-metre coverage. Use either the reliable stated coverage per package or the actual rectangular pieces per package for the product you plan to buy.
Mosaics and non-rectangular tile
Mosaic sheets, hexagons, penny-rounds, fans and other non-rectangular products should not be forced through rectangular bounding-box piece math. If the seller or manufacturer publishes reliable package coverage, Coverage per Package mode can still plan whole packages without fabricating individual chip counts.
Why grout joints do not change V1 tile count
Joint width interacts with perimeter edges, orientation, cuts, size variation and pattern. Adding one joint width to every tile dimension would imply false precision. V1 therefore keeps grout-joint width out of rectangular tile piece count.
Patterns and layouts
Grid, offset/running bond, diagonal, herringbone, chevron and mosaics can use material differently. V1 does not pretend each layout has one deterministic universal waste factor. Adjust the explicit overage using guidance for your real product and project.
Accessories are separate estimating problems
Grout, thinset/mortar/adhesive, backer board, underlayment, waterproofing or uncoupling membranes, spacers, leveling systems, trim/bullnose, transitions, sealers and stair pieces are outside this V1 quantity output because their requirements depend on additional product and installation inputs.
Ceramic, porcelain and stone
Ordinary ceramic, porcelain and natural-stone tile can share face-area quantity math when meaningful dimensions or package coverage are supplied. The calculator does not certify floor or wall suitability, slip resistance, wet/freeze-thaw use, substrate systems, structural suitability or code compliance.
Square feet, square metres and millimetres
US customary and metric project units are supported, including millimetres for product dimensions. Valid physical values are stored canonically so repeated unit switching does not compound rounded display conversions.
Worked US example
A 12 ft × 10 ft rectangle has 120 ft² of base area. With 10% overage, the planning area is 132 ft². With actual 12 in × 12 in rectangular tiles, the area-equivalent result is 132 whole tiles. If the product contains 10 such tiles per package, whole-package planning requires 14 packages, or 140 tiles.
Worked metric example
A 4 m × 3 m area has 12 m² of base area. With 10% overage, the planning area is 13.2 m². With actual 600 mm × 600 mm rectangular tiles, the face area is 0.36 m² and the area-equivalent whole-tile estimate is 37.
Common tile-estimating mistakes
- Using nominal tile dimensions when the actual face size differs.
- Counting irregular or mosaic chips with rectangular bounding-box area.
- Assuming every box contains the same number of tiles or coverage.
- Adding a hidden pattern multiplier on top of an explicit overage.
- Subtracting an opening twice or subtracting more than its source section.
- Treating an area-equivalent tile count as an optimized cut/layout plan.
- Using a simple area calculator as product, waterproofing or code advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10% extra tile always required?
No. It is only the editable ProjectFigures planning starting value.
Can I calculate wall tile?
Yes. Enter each planar wall or backsplash rectangle; the quantity engine uses the same face-area math as floors.
Can I calculate an L-shaped floor?
Yes. Split it into non-overlapping rectangles and enter each as a section.
Does grout-joint width reduce the tile count?
V1 does not use grout-joint width to alter tile count because a simple spacing multiplier would not model real edge, cut and pattern geometry.
Can I use package coverage for mosaic tile?
Yes, when reliable seller/manufacturer package coverage is available. V1 does not fabricate individual mosaic-chip counts.
Does it calculate grout or mortar?
No. Those need separate product-specific inputs and contracts.
Can I enter tile size in millimetres?
Yes. Product dimensions support mm along with ft, in, m and cm.
Related tools
For modular non-tile hard-surface flooring, use the Flooring Calculator. To price the wider project using your own supplier tile cost, continue to the Contractor Job Pricing Calculator.
Tile face-area quantity planning only. No layout optimization, hidden pattern multiplier, grout/accessory takeoff, product suitability or code advice.