Tile planning

How Much Tile Waste to Add by Layout

Straight tile layouts need less waste than diagonal, patterned, or small-room layouts with lots of cuts.

For a simple square or rectangular room, 10 percent waste is often a reasonable starting point. Small rooms can still need more because edge cuts use a larger share of the tile.

Use 15 to 20 percent for diagonal layouts, herringbone, checkerboard patterns, niches, borders, and rooms with several obstacles.

Open every box and blend tiles from multiple boxes as directed by the manufacturer, especially for natural-looking color variation.