Updated
March 27, 2026
Reviewed against the current calculator logic, structured content, and internal linking used on BuildCostLab.
Tile quantity tool
Tile Calculator
Estimate tile count, boxes, waste, and rough material cost for wall and floor tiling.
Methodology
Planning-first estimate
Use this calculator to build a rough material estimate, then confirm it against product coverage data, site conditions, and supplier pack sizes before you order.
Trust
How we publish
See the calculator methodology and editorial policy for the standards behind these pages.
Assumptions
Assumes standard rectangular tile layouts and a buyer who wants both tile counts and whole-box buying guidance.
Common mistakes
Common misses include ignoring cut-heavy layouts, forgetting breakage, and comparing prices without checking pieces per box.
Best use cases
Useful for bathrooms, splashbacks, and floor tiling jobs where waste and box rounding matter.
How to get a better estimate
Measure carefully, apply realistic waste, and sense-check the result against how the product is actually sold.
Before you buy
Round to whole buying units and compare product coverage before buying solely on sticker price.
UK and US note
Unit wording and supplier pack conventions differ between markets, but the estimating logic still starts with geometry, waste, and whole-unit ordering.
Final buying check
Before placing an order, compare product coverage, pack size, delivery cost, and whether buying one extra unit is safer than risking a shortfall.
Explore this topic cluster
Open the full Tile Estimating hub to move from quick estimate to deeper guidance.
How many tiles do I need?
Work out the area, divide by the tile face area, add waste, and then round up to the box size.
Why does tile waste matter so much?
Because layout cuts, breakages, and pattern matching can push the real buying number well above the neat mathematical answer.