How to Lay Tile
Learn how to lay tile step by step, with the tools, materials, and a free calculator to estimate exactly what you need. To calculate tiles, find the area in square feet (length × width), divide by the area of one tile, then add 10–20% for cuts and breakage. A 10×8 ft floor with 12-inch tiles needs about 88 tiles including 10% waste, costing roughly $160–$1,200 in tile.
Get exact numbers
Use the free Tile Calculator to estimate your project.
Step-by-step
- 1
Measure the surface
Multiply length × width in feet for the total area.
- 2
Find one tile's area
Multiply tile width × height in inches, then divide by 144 for square feet.
- 3
Divide and add waste
Divide the surface area by the tile area, then add 10–20%.
- 4
Round up to full boxes
Buy by the box and keep spares for repairs and dye-lot matching.
Pro tips
- Avoid: skipping the waste allowance — Cuts at walls and breakage during install mean you need 10–20% extra. Buy it up front — dye lots change.
- Avoid: subtracting grout lines — Grout lines barely change the count, and the waste factor covers it. Don't reduce your tile total for them.
- Avoid: forgetting setting materials — Thinset, grout, spacers, and sealer aren't tiles but are essential — budget for them separately.
- Avoid: not ordering a repair stock — Keep a few spare tiles from the same lot for future cracks and chips you can't re-match later.