About this calculator
Tiles for a floor, wall, shower or backsplash, with the adhesive and grout to fix them, in one takeoff.
How it’s calculated
Each tile plus its joint covers (width + joint) × (length + joint). Tiles = area ÷ that × (1 + waste). Adhesive is taken as about 6 kg/m² with a notched floor trowel and 3 kg/m² with a notched wall trowel, TAL’s figures for Goldstar 6 in 20 kg bags. Grout comes in 5 kg bags; TAL Wall & Floor Grout suits joints of 2 to 8 mm.
Worked example
With these inputs:
- Measure by
- Length × width
- Length
- 4.5 m
- Width
- 3.6 m
- Tile width
- 300 mm
- Tile length
- 600 mm
- Grout joint
- 3 mm
- Layout
- Straight, many cuts (10%)
- Tiles per box (optional)
- 0
- Tiling
- Floor (notched floor trowel)
the result is:
- Tiles needed
- 98 tiles
- Area
- 16.2 m²
- Tiles per m²
- 5.47
- Grout (approx.)
- 3.8 kg
Tips from the trade
- Large-format tiles and anything laid diagonally need more waste and more adhesive.
- Lay out a dry row before mixing anything, and avoid slivers under half a tile at the edges.
- Back-butter large tiles for full coverage, especially in showers.
- In showers and wet areas, waterproof the walls and floor with a waterproofing system before tiling.
Common questions
How many tiles do I need for 10 m²?
300 × 600 mm tiles with 3 mm joints: about 55 tiles before waste, about 60 with 10%.
Results are estimates for planning and pricing. Check quantities against your drawings, the manufacturer’s data and SANS 10400 (the National Building Regulations) and your local municipality before ordering.