{
    "name": "Floor Tile Waste Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/floor-tile-waste-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/floor-tile-waste-calculator.md",
    "category": "Construction",
    "description": "Work out how many floor tiles and boxes to buy from the room size, tile size and joint width, with a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.",
    "summary": "Divide the floor area by the area of one tile plus its joint, then add a waste allowance for cuts, breakage and spares, and round up to whole boxes.",
    "also_called": [
        "Tile quantity calculator",
        "Flooring tile estimator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "units",
            "label": "Units",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "metric",
            "options": {
                "metric": "Metric",
                "imperial": "Imperial"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "length",
            "label": "Floor length",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "4"
        },
        {
            "name": "width",
            "label": "Floor width",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "3"
        },
        {
            "name": "tile_length",
            "label": "Tile length",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "300"
        },
        {
            "name": "tile_width",
            "label": "Tile width",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "300"
        },
        {
            "name": "joint",
            "label": "Joint width",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "3",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "waste",
            "label": "Waste allowance",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "per_box",
            "label": "Tiles per box",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "optional": true
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "tiles",
            "label": "Tiles to buy (with waste)",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "tiles_no_waste",
            "label": "Tiles to cover the floor",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "waste_tiles",
            "label": "Extra tiles for waste",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "boxes",
            "label": "Boxes",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "area_m2",
            "label": "Floor area",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "area_ft2",
            "label": "Floor area",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Tiles = ⌈L × W ÷ [(a + j)(b + j)] × (1 + Waste)⌉;  Boxes = ⌈Tiles ÷ Tiles per box⌉",
        "variables": {
            "L, W": "floor length and width",
            "a, b": "tile length and width",
            "j": "joint width"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "units": "metric",
            "length": "4",
            "width": "3",
            "tile_length": "300",
            "tile_width": "300",
            "joint": "0",
            "waste": "10",
            "per_box": "10"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Floor = 4 × 3 = 12 m²; one tile = 0.3 × 0.3 = 0.09 m².",
            "12 ÷ 0.09 = 133.3 → 134 tiles to cover the floor.",
            "With 10% waste: 133.3 × 1.1 = 146.7 → 147 tiles = 15 boxes of 10."
        ],
        "result": "A 4 × 3 m floor in 300 mm tiles needs 147 tiles (15 boxes) with a 10% allowance."
    },
    "interpretation": "Buy all tiles from one batch (shade and calibre), and keep a few spares for future repairs. Large-format tiles and diagonal layouts waste more at the edges.",
    "assumptions": [
        "A rectangular floor; split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add them."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Does not plan cuts; a layout drawing can reduce waste for expensive tiles."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "How much tile waste should I allow?",
            "answer": "Commonly about 10% for a straight lay in a simple room and 15–20% for diagonal, herringbone or rooms with many corners."
        },
        {
            "question": "Does the grout joint matter?",
            "answer": "Slightly: a 3 mm joint on 300 mm tiles saves about 2% of tiles. It matters more for small tiles and mosaics."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Grout Requirement Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/grout-requirement-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Paver Block Quantity Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/paver-block-quantity-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Waterproofing Area Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/waterproofing-area-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Percentage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/percentage-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Tile Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/tile-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "Quantities are estimates. Confirm requirements with your engineer or supplier before ordering materials.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}