Tile Calculator | Square Footage & Boxes Needed

Tile waste factor (why you buy extra)

• Standard layout (rectangular): 10% waste — straight cuts at walls and around fixtures.
• Diagonal layout: 15% waste — diagonal cuts create more triangular scraps.
• Herringbone/chevron: 20% waste — heavy cutting at edges.
• Hexagon / penny / mosaic: 15-20% waste for sheet-mounted small tiles.
• Add an extra 5% if your room has many corners, niches, or odd angles.

Buy from the same lot/batch number. Different production runs often have subtle color shifts that show on the wall. Keep 2-3 full tiles for future repairs.

Grout coverage

Grout needed depends on tile size and joint width. As a rough guide:

• Standard 12×12 with 1/8" joint: About 25 lb of grout per 100 sq ft.
• Subway 3×6 with 1/16" joint: About 20 lb per 100 sq ft.
• Mosaic with 1/16" joint: 35-40 lb per 100 sq ft (more joints).

For floors use sanded grout (joints over 1/8"). For shower walls use unsanded on tight joints under 1/8". Pair with our tile-related reviews.