Tile calculator
Enter the area and tile size. Grout is figured from joint width and tile thickness, so a 1/16 in joint on thin wall tile comes out very different from a 3/8 in joint on floor tile.
Materials takeoff
Tile Calculator · https://estimahome.com/tile-calculator/
Area length: 10 ftArea width (or wall height): 12 ftTile length: 24 inTile width: 12 in
- Area
- 120 sq ft
- Tiles
- 65
- Boxes
- 9
- Grout
- 7.2 lb
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tile 24 × 12 in, 9 boxes | 144 | sq ft | $3.00 | $432.00 |
| 2 | Thinset mortar, 50 lb | 3 | bag | $22.00 | $66.00 |
| 3 | Sanded grout, 25 lb | 1 | bag | $25.00 | $25.00 |
- Subtotal
- $523.00
- Likely range
- $444.55 – $601.45
- Buy all tile from the same lot and keep a box for future repairs.
- Not included: backer board, membrane, spacers, trim pieces, sealer.
Buy these materials
- 9 boxes of 24 × 12 in tileAmazon search for boxes of 24 × 12 in tile (opens in new tab)
- 3 50 lb bags of thinsetAmazon search for 50 lb bags of thinset (opens in new tab)
- 1 bag of sanded groutAmazon search for bags of sanded grout (opens in new tab)
Links open a store search for each item. Check sizes and grades against your plan.
Quick reference
- A 120 sq ft floor of 24 × 12 in tile with 0.125 in joints takes 65 tiles including 10% waste.
- Grout volume per square foot = 144 × (1 ÷ tile length + 1 ÷ tile width) × joint width × tile thickness, in cubic inches.
- Use sanded grout for joints 1/8 in and wider, unsanded below that.
How it's calculated
⌈x⌉ means round up to the next whole unit; ⌊x⌋ means round down. Every quantity you buy is rounded up.
Area = length × widthTiles = ⌈ area × 144 ÷ ((tile L + joint) × (tile W + joint)) × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ⌉Boxes = ⌈ area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ÷ coverage per box ⌉Thinset bags = ⌈ area ÷ coverage per bag ⌉Grout (lb) = area × 144 × (1 ÷ tile L + 1 ÷ tile W) × joint × thickness ÷ 1,728 × density × (1 + waste ÷ 100)Grout bags = ⌈ grout lb ÷ bag size ⌉Cost = Σ (quantity × unit price); range = cost × (1 ± range % ÷ 100)
Worked example
A 10 × 12 ft floor is 120 sq ft. Each 24 × 12 in tile with a 0.125 in joint covers 292.52 sq in, so the floor takes 59.07 tiles, 65 with 10% waste. At 16 sq ft per box that is 9 boxes. Thinset at 45 sq ft per bag is 3 bags. Grout fills 120 × 144 × (1/24 + 1/12) × 0.125 × 0.375 cu in, about 7.22 lb with waste, so 1 bag. At the default prices: $523.00.
Questions
How much extra tile should I buy?
10% for a straight lay, 15% for diagonal or herringbone, and more for small rooms with many cuts. Large format tile breaks more often, so lean high.
How much thinset do I need?
It depends on the trowel. A 50 lb bag covers roughly 40 to 50 sq ft with a 1/4 × 3/8 in notch and more with a smaller notch. The bag has a coverage chart.
Sanded or unsanded grout?
Sanded for joints 1/8 in and wider; unsanded for narrower joints and for tile that scratches easily, such as polished stone or glass.
Cite: “Tile Calculator.” EstimaHome, https://estimahome.com/tile-calculator/. Updated 2026-10-20. Formulas in machine-readable form: /api/calculators.json.