How to Calculate Floor Tile Needs (and Why Waste Factor Matters)

Whether you are laying down ceramic tile in a bathroom or luxury vinyl plank (LVP) in a kitchen, the cardinal rule of flooring is this: never buy exactly the square footage of the room.

If you do, you will inevitably run out of flooring before the job is done. Here is how to calculate exactly what you need.

Finding the Square Footage

First, calculate the area of the room in square feet. Simply measure the length and width of the room in feet and multiply them together.

Example: A 10-foot by 12-foot kitchen is 120 square feet.

Factoring in the Tile Size

Flooring is sold either by the individual tile or by the box (which will tell you how many square feet it covers). If you are buying individual tiles (e.g., 12x12 inch tiles or 6x24 inch planks), you need to know the square footage of a single tile to figure out how many tiles fit into your room.

The Importance of the "Waste Factor"

When laying flooring, you will have to cut pieces to fit against walls, around cabinets, and into corners. Many of those cut pieces cannot be reused. Additionally, some tiles may break during transit or installation.

To account for this, contractors use a Waste Factor (or Overage):

• 5% Waste: For incredibly simple, perfectly square rooms with no obstacles.
• 10% Waste (Standard): The industry standard for most normal rooms.
• 15% Waste: Required if you are laying the tile in a diagonal pattern (like herringbone) or if the room has many complex angles and obstacles.

The Easy Way

To instantly find out how many tiles or boxes you need, use our free Tile & Flooring Calculator. Input your room size and your tile size, and it will automatically apply the correct waste factor so you order the perfect amount!