Calculate how many tiles you need for floors and walls. Includes wastage allowance, boxes needed, adhesive and grout estimates with UK cost breakdowns.
Estimates based on standard 20kg adhesive bags (4–5 m² coverage) and 5kg grout bags (10–15 m² coverage). Actual usage varies by tile size, substrate and joint width.
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Create Your Free ProposalTypical 2026 UK tile prices per square metre. Prices vary by brand, size and finish. Budget for adhesive and grout on top.
| Tile Type | Price per m² | Best For | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | £15 – £30 | Walls, splashbacks, light-use floors | Good |
| Porcelain | £25 – £50 | Floors, wet rooms, high-traffic areas | Excellent |
| Natural Stone | £40 – £80 | Premium floors, feature walls | Very Good (requires sealing) |
| Mosaic | £30 – £60 | Splashbacks, shower niches, borders | Good |
Quick reference: number of tiles per square metre for common tile sizes, excluding grout joints.
| Tile Size (mm) | Tiles per m² | Tile Area | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 × 100 | 100 | 0.01 m² | Mosaic, splashbacks |
| 150 × 150 | 44.4 | 0.0225 m² | Small walls, traditional |
| 200 × 200 | 25 | 0.04 m² | Walls, small floors |
| 300 × 300 | 11.1 | 0.09 m² | Standard floors & walls |
| 300 × 600 | 5.6 | 0.18 m² | Modern bathrooms, floors |
| 600 × 600 | 2.8 | 0.36 m² | Large floors, open-plan |
Accurately estimating the number of tiles you need is essential for any tiling project. Ordering too few means delays, potential batch-matching issues and extra delivery costs. Ordering too many wastes money, though keeping a few spares for future repairs is always wise.
The calculation is straightforward: Total Area (m²) ÷ Individual Tile Area (m²) = Number of Tiles. Then add your wastage percentage. For example, a 12m² floor using 300×300mm tiles: 12 ÷ 0.09 = 134 tiles, plus 10% wastage = 147 tiles.
Small tiles (100–200mm) work well for splashbacks, shower niches and decorative features. They create a busy look with more grout lines, so they are best for smaller areas.
Medium tiles (300×300mm) are the traditional standard for both floors and walls. They offer a good balance between ease of laying and visual appeal.
Large format tiles (300×600mm and 600×600mm) are the most popular choice for modern bathrooms and kitchens. Fewer grout lines create a cleaner look and make rooms feel larger. However, they require a very flat substrate and are harder to cut.
When tiling bathroom or kitchen walls, measure the total perimeter of the walls you want to tile and multiply by the tile height. Deduct for windows and doors where applicable. Half-height tiling (to about 1.2m) is common in kitchens, while full-height tiling is standard in wet rooms and showers.
A 20kg bag of standard tile adhesive covers approximately 4–5m² for floor tiles and 5–6m² for wall tiles. Flexible adhesive is recommended for underfloor heating and wooden substrates. A 5kg bag of grout covers 10–15m² depending on tile size and joint width. Always use waterproof grout in wet areas.
When quoting tiling jobs, include materials (tiles, adhesive, grout, trims, tanking), labour, surface preparation and waste disposal. Use tools like QuoteSmith to build professional proposals that clearly itemise every element for your customer, helping you win more tiling work.
Common questions about calculating tiles for building projects.
It depends on the tile size. For 300×300mm tiles you need approximately 11 per m². For 300×600mm you need about 6 per m². For 600×600mm you need about 3 per m². Always add 10% for wastage due to cutting and breakage.
Allow 10% for straightforward rectangular rooms. For diagonal or herringbone layouts, allow 15%. For rooms with many alcoves, curves or irregular shapes, allow 15-20%. Natural stone tiles may need a higher allowance due to colour variation and potential breakage during cutting.
A standard 20kg bag covers approximately 4–5 m² for floor tiles and 5–6 m² for wall tiles. Coverage depends on trowel notch size, tile size and how flat the substrate is. Larger tiles and uneven surfaces require more adhesive.
A 5kg bag of grout typically covers 10–15 m² depending on tile size and grout joint width. Smaller tiles with wider joints use significantly more grout. Mosaic tiles use the most grout per square metre.
300×600mm tiles are the most popular choice for small UK bathrooms. They create a clean, modern look and make the space feel larger. Large format 600×600mm tiles work well on floors. Avoid very small mosaic tiles on large areas as the busy grout lines can make a room feel smaller.
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