Before starting any tiling project, you need to decide on the tiles and patterns you want. With your interior design ideas sorted its time to think about the more practical realities of the project. Sorry, but it's got to be done.
Calculating how many tiles you need when tiling a kitchen wall not only ensures you don’t come up short or have unused boxes sitting at home, but also helps determine whether your dream tiles fit within your budget. And, it gives you consistency in colour as you’ll be buying from the same batch (hopefully).
Check out the tips from the pros in this guide, and you’ll be getting your project finished in one go.
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Stephen is an independent tiler with other 30 years in the industry. He specialises in kitchen tiling, walls and floors and general tiling repairs.
How many tile will you need? How to measure up
The shape of an area to be tiled won’t always be straightforward. Here, we look at the methods for standard rooms and irregularly shaped areas. Stephen Russell, tiler at Ashely Cross Tiling shares how to measure a straightforward area. “In most areas, you simply need to measure the width and length and multiply them together to get the square meterage.” He adds. “Use this method, even if the area has small recesses or alcoves. Just add 15% to 20% (instead of the usual 10% for wastage).”
Here’s a quick example. If you have a bathroom wall to tile that is 2m long and 2.2m high, you would have an area of 4.4m2 to cover. Add 10% wastage, and you’ll need tiles covering approximately 5m2.
However, rooms are not always that easy to measure. In this case, Russell says, “Measure the main area and then measure the smaller areas and add them together.” He adds, “If there are any large areas, like a kitchen island, measure and subtract.”
For example, if you have an L-shaped room, you can divide the floor area into two rectangles. Area 1 is 2m x 2m = 4m2 while Area 2 is 1m x 1.5m = 1.5m2. Now add the two – 4m2 + 1.5m2 = 5.5m2 to get the total area, plus your wastage. If you have more awkward areas, simply repeat the process for each area and add together.
One handy hint is to write down the measurements so you don’t forget and measure a second time to check.
TIP: If you are going to lay your tiles diagonally (at 45 degrees) or you are tiling around a window with a recess, there will be more wastage, so add 15% instead of 10% as you would normally. If in any doubt, get an extra box of tiles. This will make sure you don’t run out, and you have a replacement if any need replacing in the future.
Harriet is a tile and interiors expert at Topps Tiles, with over a decade at the brand and more than 15 years’ experience working with home and lifestyle brands. She specialises in all things tiles and tile design.
Shop these tiles ready for your next project
Crafted from premium white-body ceramic in a calming sage tone, these 65 x 250mm tiles feature soft rustic variation and a high-gloss finish. Designed to work on walls in bathrooms and kitchens.
These tiles boast a distinctive pattern of elongated, rounded shapes, each spaced with a replica grout line. They are ideal for bathrooms and wet rooms and can be laid vertically or horizontally.
These larger-format slate-effect tiles are ideal for bridging the style gap between minimalism and industrialism. Available in a selection of size shades from black to ivory.
How many tiles are in a box?
This will vary as Harriet Goodacre, interiors and tiling expert at Topps Tiles, shares, “The number of tiles in a box can vary quite a lot depending on the size and style of the tile. Smaller tiles may come with dozens in a pack, while large-format tiles might only have two or three.”
But it's not how many tiles are in a box that matters; it's the coverage that matters, says Goodacre. “What really matters is the coverage per box rather than the exact tile count.”
She adds, “This is usually listed in square metres, so you can work out how much area a box will cover.” If unsure, Goodacre adds some smart advice, “If you’re unsure, check the product description online; this will typically list this. Alternatively, ask a member of the team in-store who can help you calculate what you need."
How many boxes will I need?
If your tiles don't have a helpful chart on the box, as in the example above, simply divide the total square metres by the total square metre coverage of the box. For example, this box of Trentie White Gloss Textured Ceramic Indoor Wall Tile from B&Q covers 1m2.
So if you have 12m2 to cover, do the following maths: 12m2 / 1m2 = 12. Add 10% – 1.2 – and you get a total of 13.2, which means you need 14 boxes.
Use an online tile calculator
“If you’re unsure how many tiles to order, an online calculator is a really useful starting point,” shares Goodacre. Here we look at a couple of easy-to-use options for calculating floor and wall coverage.
Topps Tiles Tile Calculator The Topps Tiles tile calculator lets you enter the measurements of the space you’re tiling, and you can select whether that’s for a wall or a floor.
Goodacre explains how it works, “It allows you to choose the measurement type that suits best, from metres and centimetres to feet or inches, and you can also factor in things like doors, windows or other obstacles, so the estimate is more accurate.”
She adds, “The calculator then works out the total area in the selected measurement type, adds a 10% allowance for cuts and wastage, and shows you how many boxes of the tile that you’ll need, along with an estimate for grout and adhesive too.”
Tile Warehouse Tile Calculator This is a simple, straightforward calculator that offers tips on how to measure, lets you add measurements in metres, centimetres, millimetres, feet and inches, and allows you to toggle 10% wastage on or off.
FAQ
Can you tile over tile?
Can you tile over tiles is a common question asked by DIYers, and the answer is yes, you can. But there are a few caveats to consider before you start tiling. What is the state of the old tiles? If areas are cracked, lifting or missing grout, you need to sort this before tiling on top of the old tiles.
Will the wall be able to cope with the extra weight? You will effectively be doubling the weight of the tile attached to the wall. Typically, standard lightweight tiles should be OK, but large heavy wall tiles should be avoided.
Will the double depth work in all areas? Adding a second layer of tiles doubles the depth. How will the extra layer fit and look against doors and windows? Will the extra height on floors affect how appliances fit?
If none of the issues above apply then you are ready to start tiling on tile.
Not sure what tiles you want? Then check out our kitchen floor tiles ideas and bathroom tile ideas for small bathrooms. Don’t forget, if you choose a more complex tiling pattern, you may need more tiles. It's wise to add on another 5% wastage on top of the standard 10%.
