Tile Calculator — Tiles Needed & Cost

To calculate tiles needed, divide the total area to be tiled by the area of a single tile. Common UK tile sizes include 300 × 300 mm (0.09 m²), 600 × 300 mm (0.18 m²) and 600 × 600 mm (0.36 m²). Always add 10% for cuts and breakage — increase to 15% for diagonal layouts or complex patterns.

For wall tiling, measure each wall separately and subtract windows or other openings. For floor tiling, measure the room at its longest and widest points (including any alcoves). The calculator handles rectangular, L-shaped and irregular rooms by letting you split the area into sections.

Enter your room dimensions, tile size and layout pattern. The calculator shows the number of tiles, boxes (tiles are typically sold in boxes covering 1–1.5 m²) and estimated cost. It also estimates adhesive and grout: roughly 2–3 kg of adhesive per m² for wall tiles and 3–5 kg per m² for large floor tiles.

How many tiles do you need? Tiles needed = floor area ÷ tile area, plus 10-15% waste (more for diagonal or hexagonal patterns, less for large-format on simple rooms). Tile area = length × width. Example: 4m × 3m bathroom = 12 m². Tile size 300×300mm = 0.09 m². Need 12 ÷ 0.09 = 134 tiles + 15% waste = 154 tiles. Most tile shops sell by box; check box coverage (typically 1.0-2.0 m²/box). Always buy from same production batch — colour shading varies between batches (look for 'shade' code on box).

UK tile types and where to use them. Ceramic: cheaper (£15-£40/m²), softer — walls and light-traffic floors only. Porcelain: harder, denser, frost-proof (£25-£70/m²) — heavy-traffic floors, outdoor, wet areas. Natural stone (marble, limestone, slate, travertine): £40-£120/m² — needs sealing, can stain. Glass mosaic: £40-£200/m² — feature walls, splashbacks. Quarry tile: traditional UK farmhouse, unglazed clay £25-£60/m². Anti-slip rating (R-value): R9 indoor wet area; R10-R11 wet rooms, kitchens; R12+ commercial/outdoor.

Layout patterns — yield and complexity. Straight/grid: simplest, ~5-10% waste. Brick/offset (50% staggered): 7-10% waste. Herringbone: 15% waste, more complex cuts. Versailles (multi-size pattern): up to 20% waste, professional install. Diagonal: 15% waste, looks larger. Bookmatched (mirroring veins for marble): premium look, requires careful sequencing. Cuts for fixtures (toilet, shower, doorways): allow extra. Test layout dry before adhesive — start from centre of room, work outward, end with cuts at edges (less visible).

Grout and adhesive — often forgotten. Adhesive: powdered 20kg bag covers ~5 m² wall, ~3 m² floor. Cost £15-£25/bag. Type matters: standard tile adhesive for ceramic; flexible for porcelain on flexing floors; rapid-set for time pressure. Grout: 5kg bag covers 5-15 m² depending on tile size and joint width. Sample joint widths: 2mm walls, 3mm floors, 5mm+ rustic stone. Epoxy grout (waterproof, stain-resistant): 3-5× cost of cement grout, ideal for kitchens/bathrooms. Sealer for natural stone £25-£60/litre — repeat every 1-3 years.

Cost of tiling a UK room. Materials for 12 m² bathroom: mid-range porcelain tiles £35/m² × 14 m² (waste) = £490; adhesive 4 bags × £20 = £80; grout 2 bags × £20 = £40; spacers, profiles, sealant £40. Total materials £650. Labour: £60-£90/m² for floor tiling, more for walls and complex patterns. 12 m² floor + 30 m² walls × £75/m² = £3,150 labour. Full bathroom re-tile typical cost: £3,500-£5,000 mid-range. DIY saves £2,500-£4,000 but plan 3-5 days work, expect mistakes on first attempt.