Tiles per square meter: quick rule of thumb

Calculating tiles per square meter is essential for any tiling project to ensure you purchase the right amount of materials without waste or shortages.

Tiles calculator

Materials
Cuts, breakage

Tiles needed (incl. waste)
Boxes to buy
Rounded up
Tile area coverage
m² per tile
Formula: tiles = (area ÷ tile_area) × (1 + waste%). See Disclaimer.

How the estimate works

To estimate how many tiles are needed per square meter, first measure your area in meters. Divide this by the size of each tile (including grout lines) to find out how many tiles fit horizontally and vertically within one square meter. Multiply these numbers for total coverage. For instance, a standard 20x20 cm tile would cover about 25 tiles per square meter excluding cuts and breaks.

How to reduce the cost

FAQ

Plan for additional tiles to cover cuts, typically around 10% more than your initial calculation.

Break the space into smaller sections and measure each separately. This helps in better estimating tile needs.

While every project is unique, a common approach is to assume 10-15% extra tiles beyond your basic calculation.

For a general-purpose tool, see: /appliance-electricity-cost-calculator