Material calculator
Tile calculator — tiles, thinset & grout
Estimate tile pieces plus approximate thinset and grout from project area, tile size, trowel coverage, and joint width. Thinset and grout are chart-based estimates; confirm on the actual bag.
You'll need
111 tiles
Tiles
- Thinset
- 2 50 lb bags
- Grout
- 1 25 lb bags
What this assumes
- 100 ft² ÷ 1.000 ft² per tile, +10% tile waste.
- Thinset coverage is 95 ft² per 50 lb bag from the trowel/product chart.
- Grout uses the spec midpoint of 0.075 lb/ft² for 12×12 tile with 1/8 in joints, scaled by tile size and joint width.
Coverage rates & sources
Every number this calculator uses is a published engineering constant — not an estimate we made up. Here is exactly what it assumes and where each value comes from.
- Square inches per square foot: 144 in²/ft²Source: Standard unit conversion (12² = 144)
- Tile straight-set waste: 10%Source: Standard tile waste for cuts (Inch Calculator / industry)
- Tile diagonal/pattern waste: 15%Source: Standard for diagonal layouts (15–20% range)
- Thinset coverage 1/4×1/4×1/4 trowel: ~95 ft²/50 lb bagSource: Manufacturer trowel/coverage charts (Mapei/Custom/TEC) — small-notch trowel
- Thinset coverage 1/4×3/8 trowel: ~75 ft²/50 lb bagSource: Manufacturer coverage charts — medium notch
- Thinset coverage 1/2×1/2 trowel: ~40 ft²/50 lb bagSource: Manufacturer coverage charts — large tile / large notch
- Grout (12×12 tile, 1/8 in joint): ~0.05–0.1 lb/ft²Source: Mapei/TEC grout consumption charts (≈0.5–1 lb per 10 ft²); scales with tile size + joint width
- Grout bag: 25 lb/bagSource: Standard sanded-grout bag size
Before you buy
- Thinset and grout coverage depend heavily on tile size, trowel notch, joint width, and the exact product.
- Large-format tile needs a bigger notch and often back-buttering, which increases thinset use.
- Tile count assumes one tile size with no decorative border or accent band.
This is a planning estimate, not a substitute for a pro's on-site measurement. For load-bearing, structural, or code-regulated work, confirm quantities with a licensed contractor.
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