Tile Square Footage Calculator

Practical material planning

Tile Square Footage Calculator

Use the Tile Square Footage Calculator to measure a rectangular room, find the floor area, add a waste allowance, and estimate tile pieces, boxes, and optional material cost. Enter the room and tile dimensions, then use the coverage printed on the tile box to refine your order estimate.

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Most used tool

Start with a tile square footage estimate

Enter your room and tile details below. The estimator uses consistent unit conversions, applies waste, and shows the formula behind the result.

Estimator

Tile Square Footage Calculator

Planning tile for a rectangular room or a simple floor section, from a small backsplash to a larger open floor.

Calculates in consistent units
Units
Room measurements

Add non-overlapping rectangles. All surface measurements are in feet (ft).

Room
Tile details

Surface and tile units can differ because the calculator converts both to a common internal unit before calculation.

Order settings

Waste allowance

Choose a focused estimator

Tile calculators for the surface in front of you

Shower Tile Square Footage Calculator

A shower alcove, walk-in shower, or a tiled shower with more than one wall or a separate floor.

Bathroom Tile Square Footage Calculator

Bathroom floors with multiple sections, a partial wall installation, or a room where the floor and wall areas need separate estimates.

Carpet Tile Square Footage Calculator

Home offices, basements, bedrooms, and commercial spaces covered with modular carpet tile.

Hexagon Tile Square Footage Calculator

Regular, six-sided hexagon tile when you know the tile's across-flats or across-points measurement.

Floor Tile Square Footage Calculator

One or more tiled floors, including L-shaped rooms represented by simple, non-overlapping rectangles.

Ceramic Tile Square Footage Calculator

Ceramic tile on a floor, wall, backsplash, or several surfaces using the same product.

Ceiling Tile Square Footage Calculator

Suspended ceiling panels or decorative ceiling tile across one or more rectangular sections.

Wall Tile Square Footage Calculator

Kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, tiled wainscoting, and shower walls with different widths or heights.

Worked examples

See how measurements become a tile order estimate

These examples show the area math before installation details. Use the linked calculator to enter your own dimensions and manufacturer box coverage.

01 / Floor

A 12 ft × 10 ft room

The floor is 120 sq ft. Add 10% for cuts and the order area becomes 132 sq ft. If each box covers 12 sq ft, round up to 11 boxes.

Estimate a tile floor

02 / Shower

Three walls and a window

Walls of 3 × 7, 5 × 7, and 3 × 7 ft plus a 5 × 3 ft floor total 92 sq ft. Subtract a 2 × 2 ft window to get 88 sq ft; with 10% waste, plan for 96.8 sq ft.

Estimate shower tile

03 / Bathroom

Keep floor and walls distinct

An 8 × 6 ft floor is 48 sq ft. Two tiled walls, 8 × 4 ft and 6 × 4 ft, add 56 sq ft. Estimate these surfaces separately when the floor and wall use different tile.

Plan bathroom tile

04 / Pattern tile

Allow extra for hexagon cuts

A 100 sq ft floor with 10% waste needs material covering about 110 sq ft. For mesh-mounted hexagons, use the manufacturer’s sheet or box coverage to estimate the order.

Estimate hexagon tile

Examples are for illustration. Actual orders can vary with layout, cuts, breakage, and product packaging.

Tile measurement guide

How to calculate tile square footage

Measure only the finished surface that will receive tile. For a rectangle, multiply its length by its width after making sure both measurements use the same unit. The result is the area before adding material for cuts.

Basic floor formula

Length × Width = Area

Area = length × width. For several sections, add the areas and subtract only untiled openings. Order area = net area × (1 + waste fraction); boxes = round up (order area ÷ coverage per box).

For multiple sections, add the measured areas and subtract only openings that overlap the planned tile. Keep separate estimates when surfaces use different tile sizes or package coverage.

1. Measure the area that will actually be tiled

Measure between the finished boundaries, not rough framing. For an L-shaped floor or a room with recesses, divide the floor into non-overlapping rectangles. The floor tile calculator supports multiple sections. For walls, measure the tiled height and width; deduct a door or window only if it lies within that measured tiled area.

2. Match the waste allowance to the layout

Cuts at edges and corners, breakage, and future repair stock can increase the amount to buy. Choose 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% in the estimator. A simple straight layout may use a smaller allowance than a diagonal or intricate pattern. Treat the result as a starting estimate, not a substitute for your installer’s takeoff.

3. Use the coverage printed on the package

Tile dimensions give a rough piece count, but manufacturers may package different quantities or state coverage based on their product’s nominal size and spacing. Enter the box coverage from the label to calculate whole cartons; the calculator rounds up rather than assuming you can buy a fraction of a box.

4. Choose the estimator for the surface

For shower walls, floors, and openings, use the shower tile calculator. For separate bathroom floor and wall subtotals, use the bathroom tile calculator. The tools convert feet, inches, centimeters, and meters consistently; always check the package’s actual coverage.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate tile square footage for a room?

Measure the finished tiled length and width in the same unit, then multiply them. For example, a 12 ft by 10 ft room is 120 sq ft before waste. Split an irregular floor into non-overlapping rectangles and add their areas.

How many boxes of tile should I buy?

Add your chosen waste allowance to the net area, then divide by the square-foot coverage stated on one box. Round up to the next whole box because partial cartons may not be available.

How much extra tile should I allow for cuts?

The calculator offers 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. A straightforward layout may need less extra than a diagonal pattern, many corners, small-format tile, or a job where spare replacement stock is important. Confirm the allowance with your installer and manufacturer.

Can I enter feet, inches, centimeters, or meters?

Yes. Choose the unit for the room dimensions and enter the tile size in its own unit. The calculator converts them to a common basis before estimating area and material quantities.

Are tile square footage calculator results an exact order quantity?

No. These are planning estimates. Actual needs depend on layout, cuts, grout joints, breakage, product coverage, lot availability, and installer guidance. Confirm the final takeoff before ordering.

Clear formulasConsistent unit conversionsWhole-box roundingPlanning estimates, not a purchase guarantee