CALC-001 · DRAWING NO. T-001 · REV A
Tile calculator.
Drafted to scale · cited sources · honest numbers
Enter the floor area and tile size. The calculator returns tile count, thinset bags, grout bags, and a material-cost range. Waste is pre-loaded by pattern (straight 10%, running bond 12%, diagonal 15%, herringbone 20%, mosaic 5%) and adjustable. Fires an ANSI A108.02 warning on large-format tile in running bond.
◈ DRAFTING PANEL · TILE TAKEOFF · N.T.S.
SHEET T-001 · REV A
Redline · scope notice Floor tile only. Does not compute wall tile, shower surrounds, backsplashes, waterproofing membrane, or backer board. Handles rectangular areas; L-shapes and niches require separate takeoffs summed. Mortar coverage assumes 50 lb bags of modified thinset at manufacturer-published rates.
Note 01 · Field Procedure
How to measure the floor
- Measure wall to wall in both directions. Record the longest run on each axis, not the shortest. Tile layout starts from center, so the longest dimension drives cut count at the perimeter.
- Record length and width in feet. Round up to the nearest half foot for irregular walls or bump-outs.
- Pick the grout width before ordering. Standard ceramic uses 1/8 in. rectified joints; non-rectified tile requires 3/16 in. minimum. Wider joints shift the effective tile size and change the count.
- Choose the layout pattern before calculating. Running bond adds 12% (brick-lay offset). Diagonal adds 15% (45-degree cuts at every wall). Herringbone adds 20% (angled interlocking cuts). Mosaic is 5% (small tiles, fewer cuts). Straight lay is the most material-efficient at 10%.
Note 02 · Equation
The formula
tiles = ⌈ A × 144 ÷ ( tL + g ) × ( tW + g ) × ( 1 + w ÷ 100 ) ⌉
Afloor area in square feet
tL, tWtile length and width in inches
ggrout joint width in inches
wwaste percentage (pattern-dependent)
144square inches per square foot
⌈ ⌉ceiling function (round up to whole tile)
Note 03 · Sanity Ranges
Tiles by project size
| T | Use case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40 sf | Entry / foyer | 24×24 straight: ~44 tiles. Small room, large tile. |
| 60 sf | Laundry room | 12×12 straight: ~66 tiles. Standard utility layout. |
| 80 sf | Bathroom floor | 12×12 straight: ~87 tiles. Most common DIY tile job. |
| 150 sf | Kitchen floor | 12×24 straight: ~82 tiles. Large format cuts tile count. |
| 200+ sf | Open-plan living | 24×24 diagonal: adds 15% waste. Budget for extra boxes. |
Note 04 · References
Sources
Authorities cited on this sheet
- TCNA Handbook 2026: Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation · Tile Council of North America. Defines installation methods, mortar coverage requirements, grout joint minimums, and waste factors by pattern. The primary reference for tile takeoff methodology.
- ANSI A108 Tile Installation Standards (administered by TCNA) · ANSI A108.02 Section 4.3.8.1: large-format tiles (any side over 15 in.) shall not exceed 33% running-bond offset. Enforced as a hard warning in this calculator.
- Custom Building Products VersaBond Thinset Mortar · 50 lb modified thinset. Coverage by trowel size: 1/4×1/4 in. ~95 sf, 1/2×1/2 in. ~50 sf, 3/4×3/4 in. ~30 sf. Basis for the thinset bag count on the spec slip.
- Custom Building Products Polyblend Plus Sanded Grout · 25 lb bag yields ~0.14 ft3 (~242 in3). Grout bag count is computed from joint-volume geometry, not a flat lookup, because consumption varies dramatically with tile size.
PROJ MATERIALFOREMAN
SHT T-001 / 014
REV A · 2026-04-19
DRAWN MF