Tile Calculator
Find out how many tiles, how much grout and how much thinset you need for a floor, wall or backsplash.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Boxes of tile | |
| Sanded grout | |
| Thinset | |
| Estimated tile cost |
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How the tile calculator works
Each tile takes up its own face plus one grout joint on two sides. The calculator divides your area, plus the extra percentage, by that space and rounds up. Boxes are figured from the square feet printed on the box.
- Grout: the volume of the joints, from tile size, joint width and tile thickness, converted to pounds using typical yields from manufacturer coverage charts (about 400 cubic inches per 25 lb bag).
- Thinset: square feet per 50 lb bag for your trowel notch, using the low end of the published range so you do not run short.
Worked example: a 10 ft x 12 ft floor with 12 in tile
The floor is 120 sq ft. With 10% extra you need 132 sq ft of tile. A 12 in tile with a 1/8 in joint takes up about 1.02 sq ft, so that is 130 tiles, or 9 boxes of 15 sq ft. At 3/8 in thick, the grout comes to about 9 lb with 10% extra, which is one 25 lb bag. A 1/4 x 3/8 in trowel covers about 60 sq ft per 50 lb bag, so you need 2 bags of thinset.
Worked example: a 10 ft backsplash, 18 in tall, with 3 x 6 in subway tile
The backsplash is 15 sq ft, or 16.5 sq ft with 10% extra. With a 1/16 in joint that is about 128 tiles. It needs only about 1.2 lb of grout, so a small container is plenty. One bag of thinset is more than enough.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles do I need?
Divide the area by the area one tile takes up including its joint, add 10% for cuts and breakage (15% or more for diagonal layouts), and round up.
Does the grout joint width matter?
Yes. A wider joint takes much more grout, and a smaller tile has more joint per square foot. Mosaic sheets use far more grout than large tile.
Which trowel notch should I use?
Follow your tile and thinset instructions. Larger tiles generally call for larger notches, which also use more thinset per square foot.
Sanded or non-sanded grout?
Manufacturers generally recommend sanded grout for joints from 1/8 to 1/4 inch and non-sanded for 1/16 to 1/8 inch. Check your grout's label.
Estimates only. Grout and thinset use varies with the tile back, the surface and technique. Always buy a little extra, and keep leftover tile from the same batch for repairs.