How Many Square Feet Does a Box of Tile Cover?
Quick answer: most tile boxes cover 10–20 sq ft — 10 sq ft is the most common for 12×12 tile, 15–20 sq ft for larger tiles. The coverage is printed on the box label; read it, because tiles per box varies by size and brand.
- Coverage by tile size
- Tiles per box
- Boxes by room size
- Waste: why you never order exact
- Worked example: 10×10 room
- FAQ
Coverage by tile size
Coverage per box ranges from about 10 sq ft (12×12 and subway tile) to 20 sq ft (large-format 24×24). The box label is authoritative — brands package the same tile differently, and the sq ft number, not the piece count, is what drives your order.
| Tile size | Tiles per box | Coverage per box |
|---|---|---|
| 4×8 subway | ~45 | 10 sq ft |
| 12×12 | 10 | 10 sq ft |
| 12×24 | ~10 | 20 sq ft |
| 24×24 | 5–6 | 20 sq ft |
Tiles per box
Piece count follows size: 10 pieces of 12×12 tile (each 1 sq ft) = 10 sq ft; about 45 pieces of 4×8 subway tile (0.22 sq ft each) = 10 sq ft; 5–6 pieces of 24×24 tile = 20 sq ft. This is why you buy by square footage, not by counting tiles.
Boxes by room size
Divide the room area (plus waste) by the box coverage. A 10×10 room at 110 sq ft with waste ÷ 10 sq ft per box = 11 boxes. Round up — partial boxes can't be split, and extra tile is cheap insurance for cuts and breakage.
| Room size | Area | +10% waste | Boxes @ 10 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5×8 bathroom | 40 sq ft | 44 sq ft | 5 |
| 10×10 room | 100 sq ft | 110 sq ft | 11 |
| 12×15 room | 180 sq ft | 198 sq ft | 20 |
| 15×20 room | 300 sq ft | 330 sq ft | 33 |
Waste: why you never order exact
You cut at walls, doorways and around fixtures — and tiles break. Use 10% for straight layouts, 15% for diagonal or herringbone, and keep a few spare tiles for future repairs. Ordering exactly your area means no room for error, and re-ordering a matching dye lot later is not guaranteed.
Worked example: a 10×10 room with 12×12 tile
- Room area = 100 sq ft
- + 10% waste = 110 sq ft
- Box coverage = 10 sq ft
- 110 ÷ 10 = 11 boxes (110 tiles)
FAQ
Most tile boxes cover 10–20 sq ft, with 10 sq ft the most common for 12×12 tile and 15–20 sq ft typical for larger tiles. Coverage is printed on the box label.
About 10 tiles of 12×12 (10 sq ft), 45 tiles of 4×8 subway tile (10 sq ft), or 5–6 tiles of 24×24 (20 sq ft). The label shows both count and coverage.
About 11 boxes with 12×12 tile. The room is 100 sq ft; add 10% waste = 110 sq ft; ÷ 10 sq ft per box = 11 boxes. Use 15% waste for diagonal layouts.
100 tiles exactly cover 100 sq ft, but you need 110–115 for waste — about 11–12 boxes of 10. Ordering exactly 100 leaves no room for cuts and broken tiles.
Because you buy by the square foot, and tile count varies with size — a box of 24×24 tile has fewer pieces than a box of 4×8 subway tile for the same area.