How Many Tiles per Square Foot? (Chart by Tile Size)
A 12x12 tile with an eighth-inch joint takes 1.02 ft² of floor, so about 0.98 of them cover a square foot before any waste allowance.
Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.
Work it out for your own sizes
Count tiles and boxes for your own areaExample to try: Area 100 ft², Tile size 1 ft, Grout joint 1/8 in
Tiles per square foot, by tile size and joint
Tiles that cover one square foot, by tile size and grout joint width, with no waste allowance
| Tile size (inches) | Square feet one tile covers, no joint | Tiles per sq ft, no joint | Tiles per sq ft, 1/16 in joint | Tiles per sq ft, 1/8 in joint | Tiles per sq ft, 3/16 in joint | Tiles per sq ft, 1/4 in joint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2x2 | 0.03 ft² | 36 | 33.851 | 31.889 | 30.093 | 28.444 |
| 3x6 | 0.13 ft² | 8 | 7.756 | 7.523 | 7.301 | 7.089 |
| 4x4 | 0.11 ft² | 9 | 8.725 | 8.463 | 8.212 | 7.972 |
| 4x12 | 0.33 ft² | 3 | 2.939 | 2.879 | 2.822 | 2.766 |
| 6x6 | 0.25 ft² | 4 | 3.918 | 3.838 | 3.761 | 3.686 |
| 8x8 | 0.44 ft² | 2.25 | 2.215 | 2.181 | 2.148 | 2.116 |
| 12x12 | 1 ft² | 1 | 0.99 | 0.979 | 0.969 | 0.96 |
| 12x24 | 2 ft² | 0.5 | 0.496 | 0.492 | 0.488 | 0.485 |
| 18x18 | 2.25 ft² | 0.444 | 0.441 | 0.438 | 0.435 | 0.432 |
| 24x24 | 4 ft² | 0.25 | 0.249 | 0.247 | 0.246 | 0.245 |
Estimate for planning, from what you entered and the product data shown. Check product labels and your supplier before you buy.
Each cell is one square foot divided by the area a tile takes with its joint on two sides, not rounded. Add a waste allowance and round up with the tile calculator.
How to read the chart
The first value column is the tile's own face, with no joint. The others add the joint on two sides of the tile, which is why a wider joint lowers the tiles per square foot. For a count to buy, add the waste allowance and round up once with the tile calculator.
Small tile changes most with the joint. For a backsplash, the backsplash tile calculator takes the cut-outs off as well.
Questions
How many sq ft does a 12x12 tile cover?
With no joint, one square foot. With a joint, a little more than that, because each tile takes its own size plus the joint on two sides. The chart's 12x12 row shows the tiles per square foot at each joint.
How many tiles per square foot do I need for a small tile?
More, and the joint matters more. The chart lists the tiles per square foot for common sizes at five joint widths, with no waste allowance added.
Calculate it for your project
Enter your own sizes to get the amount to buy or the layout figures, with the working shown and a page to print.
Tile calculator with waste and boxes