Tile Calculator
Enter the area in metres and your tile size in millimetres to see how many tiles and boxes to buy, plus adhesive, grout and an estimated cost in CAD.
Formulas shown on this page · Last reviewed October 2026
How the tile calculator works
tiles = area ÷ ((tile width + joint) × (tile height + joint)) × (1 + waste)
boxes = tiles × tile area ÷ box coverage, rounded up
Sizes are in millimetres and the grout joint is added to each tile so the layout is not under-counted. Popular sizes in Canada include 12 × 12 in (305 mm), 12 × 24 in (305 × 610 mm) and 24 × 24 in, available from home centres and tile stores. Your default tile of 305 × 610 mm covers 0.186 m².
Waste allowance by layout
| Layout | Extra to order |
|---|---|
| Straight (grid) | 10% |
| Diagonal | 15% |
| Herringbone | 15% |
Cuts, breakages and awkward corners all use tiles. Buy a little extra for future repairs – dye lots can vary between batches.
Adhesive and grout
Thin-set mortar is sold in 22.7 kg (50 lb) bags, and large-format tile needs a large-and-heavy-tile mortar with a big notched trowel. The default coverage of 4.5 m² per 22.7 kg bag is only an approximation; real coverage depends on trowel size, tile size and how flat the surface is, so check the bag. Grout is estimated from joint length, joint width and tile thickness with 10% extra, and is also approximate. Many Canadian tile boxes are labelled in square feet (1 m² ≈ 10.76 sq ft), so check the box coverage in m² when entering it.
Prices are typical – check local prices and replace them with your own quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How many 305 × 610 mm tiles do I need for 12 m²?
With 3 mm joints and 10% waste you need 70 tiles, which is 10 boxes at 1.39 m² per box. With a diagonal layout (15% waste) it rises to 74 tiles.
How much does it cost?
At $50.00 per m², 10 boxes (13.9 m²) cost about $695.00, before adhesive and grout.
How many bags of adhesive for 12 m²?
At roughly 4.5 m² per 22.7 kg bag you need about 3 bags. This is an estimate; large tiles and uneven floors use more.
Why add waste when the area is exact?
Edge cuts rarely reuse the offcut, and diagonal or herringbone patterns create many more small cuts, hence the higher 15% allowance.