CalcGallery

Flooring and tile

Tiles, boxes, grout and flooring for a floor or wall area.

Floor coverings are bought by the box and laid with cuts at every edge, which is why the number you need is never just the area. Two things drive the difference. The first is the module: a 12 in tile with a 1/8 in grout joint occupies 12.125 in, and ignoring that leaves you short across a large floor. The second is the layout. A straight lay wastes least; a diagonal turns every perimeter cut into an angle, and herringbone repeats in a way that cannot be nudged to fit the room. Both calculators here ask which layout you are using and set the allowance from it, rather than applying a flat percentage. Buy from one batch if you can. Tile and flooring are produced in runs that vary in shade, and a discontinued line cannot be matched at all, so a spare box in the loft is the difference between replacing a few boards and replacing a floor.