Tile planning
How Much Extra Tile to Buy: Waste by Layout
Buy 10 percent extra tile for a straight grid layout, 10 to 15 percent for a brick or offset pattern, 15 percent for a diagonal layout, and 15 to 20 percent for herringbone. Add about 5 percent more for small rooms or rooms with many obstacles.
Open the tile calculatorWaste allowance by layout
Waste comes from cuts at the edges of the room. The more tiles a pattern forces you to cut, and the less of each offcut you can reuse, the more extra tile you need.
| Layout | Extra tile | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Straight grid | 10% | Square cuts, offcuts are often reusable |
| Brick or offset | 10 to 15% | Half-tile cuts at the end of each row |
| Diagonal | 15% | Every edge tile is cut at an angle |
| Herringbone or chevron | 15 to 20% | Angled cuts on all four sides |
| Small room or many obstacles | Add 5% | A larger share of tiles get cut |
Why small rooms waste more
In a large open floor most tiles go down whole and only the perimeter is cut. In a 5 x 8 foot bathroom the perimeter is most of the room, and the toilet flange, vanity, tub, and door casing each add awkward cuts. A simple grid in a small bathroom can use 15 percent waste without anything going wrong.
A worked example
A 40 square foot bathroom floor in 12 x 24 inch tile laid in an offset pattern: 40 x 1.15 = 46 square feet. Each tile is 2 square feet, so you need 23 tiles. If a box holds 8 tiles, which is 16 square feet, buy 3 boxes.
Protect yourself from shade differences
Tile is made in batches, and the shade and exact size can shift between them. Check that every box carries the same lot or shade number before you leave the store. During the install, pull tiles from several boxes at once so any variation blends in.
Keep a few whole tiles after the job. A cracked tile years later is an easy fix if you have a match and nearly impossible if you do not.
- Use 10 percent waste for straight layouts and up to 20 percent for herringbone.
- Small rooms need a higher percentage than large open floors.
- Match lot numbers and keep spare tiles for repairs.
Run the numbers
The Tile Calculator applies this math to your own measurements and shows each step. Best for planning a bathroom floor, laundry room, backsplash, or entryway tile job.