How many tiles do I need?
Enter the area and tile size and we'll work out the number of tiles, bags of adhesive and tubs of grout — with a 10% cutting allowance and every step shown.
Tip: a wall is roughly length × height. A 4 m × 2.4 m wall ≈ 9.6 m².
| Tiles (300×600 mm) | 62 × tile | — |
| Tile adhesive | 2 × 20 kg bag | £32 |
| Grout | 1 × 5 kg tub | £11 |
- 1Area to tile: 10 m²
- 2Tile size: 300×600 mm = 0.18 m² each
- 3Tiles: 10 m² ÷ 0.18 m² × 1.1 waste = 62 tiles
- 4Adhesive: 10 m² × 4 kg/m² ÷ 20 kg = 2 bags
- 5Grout: 10 m² × 0.5 kg/m² ÷ 5 kg = 1 tubs
- Tile cost excluded (buyer's choice) — adhesive & grout included.
- Adhesive ~4 kg/m² (6 mm notch); grout ~0.5 kg/m² for small joints.
How to work out tile quantities
- 1Measure the area
Multiply the width by the height of each area to tile and add them up. For a splashback or part-wall, just tile that section's area.
- 2Divide by tile size
Tiles needed = area ÷ the area of one tile. A 300 × 600 mm tile is 0.18 m², so a 10 m² wall needs about 56 tiles before waste.
- 3Add 10% for cuts
Always add ~10% for cuts, breakages and future repairs — more for diagonal or patterned layouts.
- 4Adhesive and grout
Allow about 4 kg of adhesive per m² (a 20 kg bag covers ~5 m²) and ~0.5 kg of grout per m² for small joints.
Running short on tiles mid-job is a real problem because batches vary in shade — so the safe approach is to calculate properly and add a cutting allowance up front. The maths is just area ÷ tile size, plus 10%, and the calculator shows it, along with the adhesive and grout you'll need so nothing's forgotten on the trade-counter run.
Tiles per m² by size (before 10% waste)
| Tile size | Area each | Tiles per m² |
|---|---|---|
| 100 × 100 mm | 0.01 m² | 100 |
| 200 × 250 mm | 0.05 m² | 20 |
| 300 × 600 mm | 0.18 m² | ≈ 5.6 |
| 600 × 600 mm | 0.36 m² | ≈ 2.8 |
Round up and add ~10% for cuts. Adhesive ~4 kg/m², grout ~0.5 kg/m².
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles do I need per square metre?+
It depends on tile size: a 300 × 600 mm tile is 0.18 m², so you need about 5.6 per m² (round up to 6), plus ~10% for cuts. The calculator works it out for your area and tile size.
How much tile adhesive do I need?+
Roughly 4 kg per m² with a 6 mm notched trowel, so a 20 kg bag covers about 5 m². For a 10 m² wall you'd need two bags. Floors and larger notches use more.
How much grout do I need?+
Around 0.5 kg per m² for typical wall tiles with small joints — a 5 kg tub covers roughly 10 m². Wider joints, larger or thicker tiles use more.
Should I buy spare tiles?+
Yes — buy at least 10% extra, kept from the same batch, for cuts now and repairs later. Dye-lots vary between batches, so matching later can be difficult.
Related tools & guides
Want to know how these figures are calculated? See our cost methodology.
Cost figures shown are indicative estimates, not quotations. You are responsible for verifying all costs (obtain contractor quotes) and any figures submitted to a lender. ScopeWise is a documentation tool, not financial, tax, structural or planning advice. HMO compliance prompts are guidance only — confirm requirements with your local council, as standards and licensing vary by authority.