Trade Calculator
Tile Layout Calculator
Tile math has three moving parts: room area, tile size, and pattern — miss one and you're back at the store mid-job or storing six boxes forever. Enter all three and get the tile count, the waste allowance behind it, and a box estimate for ordering.
0.5
Tiles per sq ft
each 2 sq ft
15%
Waste allowance
10% base + 5% format + 0% pattern
69
Tiles to order
≈ 12 boxes at common carton counts (6/box for this size class) — match the box count on the product page before ordering.
How the math works
- Tile size converts to coverage: a 12×24 tile covers exactly 2 square feet, so a 120 sq ft room needs 60 tiles before waste.
- Waste starts at 10% for standard formats, adds 5% for large formats over 16 inches (breakage, layout room), and 10% for mosaics under 3 inches.
- Pattern adds on top: diagonal +5%, herringbone +10% — every border and direction change is another cut piece.
Common questions
How many 12x24 tiles do I need for 100 square feet?
50 tiles cover the area exactly, but ordering means waste: 10% standard brings it to 55 tiles (about 6 boxes). Diagonal layout pushes it to 58; herringbone to 60.
How much extra tile should I buy for herringbone?
Plan on 20% total waste — the 10% tile base plus 10% for the pattern's endless cuts. Herringbone also demands a flatter substrate, so factor prep too.
Should I round up to full boxes?
Always. Tile comes in cartons, dye lots vary, and the leftover box is your repair stock. The calculator's box note uses common carton counts by tile size class — verify against your product's actual box quantity.