How to Calculate the Tile Requirement for a Multi-Shaped Tile Pattern Floor

Measure the square footage in the area of the installation surface so you have the total footage on hand for use later. Check the distance between walls and ignore areas such as islands in the middle of kitchens, as they are too small to impact your measurement. Only subtract footage if you are dealing with large areas, such as an inset that takes up a sizable portion of the floor.

Dry lay several sample pieces of tile on the floor to determine how many of them need to be included within a “box” before the pattern repeats itself. If you do not have the tiles on hand but know the dimensions, you can draw images on a piece of paper and extrapolate the numbers by simply adding up the inches. Check the size of the box for the overall square footage.

Determine how many grid boxes you will have throughout your installation area and order material accordingly. Divide the square footage of the room by the square footage of a single “box” pattern. This will give you the number of boxes in the overall installation area. Multiply the number of boxes needed to cover the area by the number of tiles of a given shape or size in each box to determine the number of each type of tile needed to cover the installation area. Add an extra 15 to 20 percent to account for waste during the cutting process and accidental breakage.