1. Measure each surface
Measure in metres. For each wall, multiply the width by the height you'll tile. For a floor, multiply length by width. Split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add them up.
2. Take away the gaps
Take off doors, windows, the bath panel or anything you won't tile behind. Leave in small gaps like sockets: you'll need those tiles for cuts anyway.
3. Add extra for cuts
| Layout | Add |
|---|---|
| Straight lay, brick bond, third offset | 10% |
| Herringbone, chevron, diagonal | 15% |
| Natural stone, handmade tiles, small rooms with lots of cuts | 15% |
Worked example
A shower enclosure with a 1.2 m and a 0.9 m wall, tiled to 2.1 m high: (1.2 + 0.9) × 2.1 = 4.41 m². Add 10%: 4.85 m². Tiles come in boxes of, say, 1.08 m², so order 5 boxes (5.4 m²).
4. Check every box
- Every box must show the same batch or shade number. Different batches can be a visibly different colour.
- Order everything at once. Topping up months later may mean a new batch.
- Keep a few spare tiles for future repairs.
The calculator and tile shop add the extra for you. Or tell us the room sizes and we'll work it out when we quote.