Free tile calculator: tile, boxes, thinset and grout
Get the tile, the boxes and the bags of thinset and grout for a room in seconds, free and without an account. One row per floor or wall: its length, its height or width, and what stays without tile (openings, a tub, cabinets). Type your waste, the box coverage from the label and, if you like, the coverage of a bag of thinset and of grout from the maker's data: you get the area, the tile to buy, the boxes and the bags. Each surface's line gives its area and its tile.
Thinset: the coverage printed per bag (reference)
As printed on the data sheets, by trowel notch. The real coverage depends on the tile, the substrate and the contact under the tile you aim for (at least 80% in dry areas and 95% in wet areas, says Custom).
| Data sheet | Bag | Published coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Custom, VersaBond (TDS-119) | 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 1/4 x 1/4 in square notch: 90 to 100 sq ft (8.4 to 9.3 m²); 1/4 x 3/8 in: 60 to 67 sq ft (5.6 to 6.2 m²); 1/2 x 1/2 in: 42 to 47 sq ft |
| LATICRETE, 253 Gold | 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 1/4 x 1/4 in (6 x 6 mm): 80 to 95 sq ft (7.4 to 8.8 m²); 1/4 x 3/8 in (6 x 9 mm): 60 to 70 sq ft (5.6 to 6.5 m²) |
| ARDEX, X 77 | 40 lb (18 kg) | 1/4 x 1/4 in: 110 sq ft (10.2 m²); 1/4 x 3/8 in: 82.5 sq ft (7.6 m²); 1/2 x 1/2 in: 55 sq ft (5.1 m²) |
| Schluter, DITRA | 50 lb (22.68 kg) | Tile set on DITRA with a 1/4 x 3/8 in trowel: one bag per 40 to 50 sq ft (35 to 45 for DITRA-XL); bonding the membrane to the substrate: one bag per 150 to 200 sq ft (13.9 to 18.6 m²) |
Sources: Custom, VersaBond thinset; LATICRETE, 253 Gold thinset; ARDEX, X 77 thinset; Schluter, DITRA mortar use
Grout: the printed coverage (reference)
Grout coverage depends on the tile's size and thickness and on the joint width: read your tile's line in the maker's chart. A few figures as printed:
| Chart | Tile | Published coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Custom, sanded grout (CC25) | 12 x 12 x 3/8 in | From 688 sq ft per 25 lb (11.34 kg) with a 1/16 in joint to 60.5 sq ft with a 3/4 in joint, no waste included |
| TEC, Power Grout 550 | 12 x 12 x 5/16 in | From 35.00 sq ft per lb with a 1/16 in joint to 4.37 sq ft per lb with a 1/2 in joint: multiply by the bag's weight |
| LATICRETE (TDS 400) | Coverage comes from the packaging chart or the maker's calculator; extra grout, typically 10%, is customary for jobsite waste |
Sources: Custom, grout coverage chart; TEC, Power Grout 550 coverage; LATICRETE, grout guide
Waste by layout (reference)
No association or standard publishes a waste table. What flooring makers' installation guides give, as read:
| Layout | Published waste |
|---|---|
| Straight lay | About 10% (Pergo), 5 to 10% (Mohawk) |
| Diagonal lay | 15% (Pergo) |
| Chevron or herringbone | 10 to 20% (Mirage) |
Source: Makers' guides, flooring waste
How it is calculated
Area to tile = length x height (or width) - the part not tiled, for each surface, never below zero. Tile to buy = area x (1 + waste). Boxes = tile to buy / box coverage, rounded up to the next box on the total. Bags = area / coverage per bag, rounded up to the next bag, for the thinset and for the grout. The waste starts at 10%, the makers' guides' typical value for a straight lay; no coverage is filled in: they come from your product's label and data sheet.
The whole job in MesuPro
Tile installation survey
Floors, walls, showers and backsplashes: tile and boxes, thinset by trowel, grout by joint, membrane.
You get: Area to tile Tile to buy Boxes
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