How Many Tiles per Square Foot?
Quick answer: 12×12 = 1 tile per sq ft, 18×18 = 0.44, 24×24 = 0.25. For a 10×10 room (100 sq ft) you need 100, 44 or 25 tiles before waste.
- The formula
- Tiles per sq ft by size
- Room examples
- Waste and boxes
- Worked example: 10×10 room
- FAQ
The formula
Tiles per square foot = 1 ÷ tile area in square feet. Convert the tile to feet first: a 12×12 tile is 1 × 1 = 1 sq ft, an 18×18 tile is 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25 sq ft, a 24×24 tile is 2 × 2 = 4 sq ft. Then divide 1 by that number.
Tiles per sq ft by size
| Tile size | Area per tile | Tiles per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 12×12 in | 1.00 sq ft | 1.00 |
| 18×18 in | 2.25 sq ft | 0.44 |
| 24×24 in | 4.00 sq ft | 0.25 |
| 4×12 in (subway) | 0.33 sq ft | 3.00 |
| 6×6 in | 0.25 sq ft | 4.00 |
Room examples
Multiply the room's square footage by the tiles-per-sq-ft number. A 100 sq ft room takes 100 12×12s, 44 18×18s, or 25 24×24s. A 200 sq ft room doubles those: 200, 89, or 50 tiles. Always round up to whole tiles.
Waste and boxes
Add 10% waste for cuts, corners and breakage — more for diagonal layouts or herringbone (15%). Tiles ship by the box with a printed coverage, so divide your tile count by the box coverage and round up to the next box.
Worked example: a 10×10 room with 18×18 tile
- Room = 100 sq ft
- 18×18 tile = 2.25 sq ft → 0.44 tiles/sq ft
- 100 × 0.44 = 44 tiles
- + 10% waste = 49 tiles (round to 50)
FAQ
Exactly one — a 12×12 tile is 1 sq ft. A 10×10 room (100 sq ft) needs 100 tiles before waste.
100 12×12 tiles, about 44 18×18 tiles, or 25 24×24 tiles — then add 10% waste.
About 0.44 tiles per square foot. An 18×18 tile covers 2.25 sq ft, so 1 ÷ 2.25 = 0.44 tiles.
0.25 tiles per square foot — a 24×24 tile covers 4 sq ft. One 24×24 replaces four 12×12s.
Convert the tile to feet, multiply length × width for its area, then divide 1 by that area. For 12×12: 1 ÷ 1 = 1; for 18×18: 1 ÷ 2.25 = 0.44.