Tile Calculator · Practical guide
How Many Boxes of Tile Do I Need?
Convert your tile count into boxes you can actually order, rounding up the right way.
At a glance
The Short Answer
Divide the total tiles you need — including a 10-15% waste allowance — by the tiles per box, then round up to the next whole box. A 100 sq ft floor needs about 110 12x12 tiles with waste, so at 15 tiles per box you need 8 boxes (110 / 15 = 7.3, rounded up).
Interactive tool
Tile Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Tile Estimate
Worked Examples
| Project | Tiles With 10% Waste | Tiles per Box | Boxes to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft floor, 12x12 tile | 110 | 15 | 8 |
| 100 sq ft floor, 12x12 tile | 110 | 10 | 11 |
| 40 sq ft bath, 12x12 tile | 44 | 15 | 3 |
| 40 sq ft bath, 6x6 tile | 176 | 22 | 8 |
Using Box Coverage Instead
Many boxes are labeled with coverage in square feet rather than a tile count — for 12x12 tiles, 15 per box equals 15 sq ft of coverage. In that case divide your area plus waste by the coverage: 110 sq ft / 15 sq ft per box = 7.3, again 8 boxes. The two methods always agree because they are the same division.
Why Rounding Up Matters
- Partial boxes are usually not sold: 7.3 boxes means buying 8.
- Spares are valuable: the leftover tiles from the rounded-up box cover future repairs in the same dye lot.
- Returns are easy: unopened boxes are typically returnable, so the risk of over-buying one box is low compared with running short.
Enter your tiles-per-box figure in the calculator and it shows the rounded box count alongside the tile total.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many 12x12 tiles come in a box?
Commonly 10 to 15, giving 10-15 sq ft of coverage per box, but it varies by manufacturer and tile thickness. Always check the label on your specific product.
What if my box is labeled in square feet only?
Divide your total area plus wastage by the coverage per box and round up. For example, 110 sq ft needed with 15 sq ft boxes means 8 boxes.
Should I round boxes up or down?
Always up. A partial box is not purchasable, and running one box short can halt a project — or worse, force a reorder from a different dye lot with a visible color shift.
Do different boxes of the same tile ever look different?
Yes. Tiles are produced in dye lots and shade batches. Buy everything in one trip, check that lot numbers match on every box, and keep spares from the same batch.