Tile Installation Cost Calculator
Size a tile order with the right waste allowance and cost it on your tile price and labor per square foot — floor or wall.
Calculator
120 sq ft of tile at 15% waste is 138 sq ft ordered ≈ $828.00 of tile, $828.00 installed on your prices.
Tile is ordered by the square foot but never cut without waste: edges, obstacles, broken pieces and pattern matching all consume tile beyond the bare area. Diagonal and patterned layouts waste the most because every perimeter cut leaves an unusable triangle. This tool adds the waste you pick to your measured area, then costs the order on your tile price and adds setting labor at your rate per square foot.
Because it defaults to a slightly higher waste band than flooring (15% for a typical mixed job), it suits both floor and wall tile. As with every cost tool here, the tile price and labor rate are yours — there is no stored price list to go stale, so the estimate is accurate for whatever tile you actually buy.
Formula
order_area = area × (1 + waste)\nmaterial = order_area × tile_price_per_sqft\nlabor = area × labor_per_sqft\ntotal = material + laborMaterial is priced on the padded order; setting labor is priced on the measured area. Tile is sold by the box, so convert the ordered square footage into whole boxes when you buy — boxes = ceil(order_area ÷ sq ft per box).
Worked example
120 sq ft of tile at a 15% waste factor and $6/sq ft tile:
- Order area = 120 × 1.15 = 138 sq ft
- Material = 138 × $6 = $828
So you order 138 sq ft of tile for about $828. Add setting labor per square foot, plus thinset, grout and any waterproofing, to reach an installed price.
Waste bands, boxes & the extras
Keep a spare box of attic stock: cracked tiles happen, and matching a discontinued line later is nearly impossible. Push the waste toward 15% for diagonal, herringbone or small-format mosaic layouts, and for rooms full of cuts (niches, curbs, fixtures); a plain straight-set floor in a rectangular room can sit at 10%.
Tile itself is only part of an installed price. Thinset mortar, grout, spacers, edge trim, and — in wet areas — a waterproofing membrane are separate consumables. Backer board or floor prep, and the setter’s labor, are where a bathroom or kitchen job really adds up; those belong in a written quote.
Basis & sources. Order-with-waste is standard take-off; the 10-15% band is a labeled planning typical. Prices are yours. See waste factors and the bathroom tile area & cost tool.
Reference table
Square feet of tile to order at each planning waste factor:
| Measured area | +10% | +12% | +15% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 sq ft | 44 sq ft | 45 sq ft | 46 sq ft |
| 80 sq ft | 88 sq ft | 90 sq ft | 92 sq ft |
| 120 sq ft | 132 sq ft | 134 sq ft | 138 sq ft |
| 200 sq ft | 220 sq ft | 224 sq ft | 230 sq ft |
Straight-set 10% · some cuts / mixed 12% · diagonal or patterned 15%. Then round up to whole boxes.
Frequently asked questions
How much tile should I order for waste?
Plan on 10% extra for a straight-set floor in a rectangular room, 12% for mixed layouts with some cuts, and 15% for diagonal, herringbone or mosaic work. The waste selector applies this to your area; then round up to whole boxes.
How many boxes of tile is that?
Divide the ordered square footage by the coverage printed on the box and round up: boxes = ceil(order area ÷ sq ft per box). If 138 sq ft is ordered and a box covers 15 sq ft, that is ceil(138 ÷ 15) = 10 boxes.
Does this include thinset, grout and labor?
Labor is included only if you enter a rate per square foot. Thinset, grout, spacers, edge trim and waterproofing membrane are separate consumables the tool does not size — add them to your budget.
Is wall tile different from floor tile here?
The math is the same — area times waste times your price. Wall tile in a shower or backsplash often has more cuts around niches and fixtures, so lean toward the higher waste band. For a full bathroom, the bathroom tile area & cost tool adds floor and walls together.
Should I keep leftover tile?
Yes — keep at least a spare box. Tile lines are discontinued regularly, and a cracked tile is easy to replace only if you have an exact match on hand.