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Tile calculator: m², boxes and tile adhesive

Tiles = m² × (1 + wastage ÷ 100); with 10 % wastage, 10 m² needs 11 m². Boxes = that figure ÷ m² per box, rounded up. Tile adhesive: 5 kg per m², in 25 kg bags. Grout: 0.5 kg per m². For walls, the area is the perimeter times the height.

Where are the tiles going?
It’s on the label on the box.

What you need

Area: 12 m²

MaterialQuantityUnit
Tiles10 boxes of 1.44 m²13.2m²
Tile adhesive3bags of 25 kg
Grout6kg
  • The tile quantity includes a 10 % margin for cuts and breakages.
  • Waterproofing not included: in a shower or under the shower tray it’s needed separately.
  • These are quantities for buying materials, not prices: the price of the job is fixed by the professional.

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If you’d rather someone else laid them, tell us about the bathroom, kitchen or floor with two photos and we’ll send you a fixed price before work starts.

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Where the figures come from

The calculator uses the same usage norms that are used to measure up a job before buying materials. These are guide quantities for a flat surface: the exact amount depends on the surface, the cuts and how the person fitting it works.

Usage norms used in this calculation
NormValueSource
Tile adhesive5 kg per m²Source: 8 mm notched trowel
Bag of tile adhesive25 kgSource: usual size in shops
Grout0.5 kg per m²Source: standard building practice

Price, service and other calculators

This calculator doesn’t give prices. Market ranges, with their sources, are in the blog guides.

What it costs

Who does it

Other calculators

Questions and answers

What people ask before going out to buy materials. If your question isn’t here, message us on WhatsApp.

How much wastage should I allow when buying tiles?

The calculator starts from 10 % for a straight lay. Increase it if you’re laying diagonally or in herringbone, if the tiles are large or if the room has lots of corners: that’s where more offcuts get thrown away. And keep a few tiles back for future repairs.

How much tile adhesive do you use per m²?

The calculator counts 5 kg per m², which is what an 8 mm notched trowel gives, and converts it into 25 kg bags. Large tiles or an uneven surface need a bigger trowel and back-buttering, and then you use more.

How much grout do I need?

The calculator counts 0.5 kg per m². Real usage depends on the joint width and the tile size: with wide joints or small tiles there are more metres of joint per m², so you use more.

How many m² come in a box of tiles?

It depends on the size; it’s printed on the label on the box. The calculator starts from 1.44 m² per box and you can change it to your tile’s figure so the number of boxes comes out exact.

Do you deduct the door and window when tiling walls?

No. For walls the calculator counts perimeter times height without deducting openings: the spare from the cuts around doors and windows acts as a reserve. If the opening is very large, like a picture window, subtract its width from the length.