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
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.