Tiles
How many tiles do I need? A practical guide with wastage
Area, coverage per box, pattern and cutting wastage — everything you need to order tiles once, not twice.
Anitha SureshInterior Specialist · 2 Sep 2026 · 5 min read
Running short by two boxes of tiles is more than an inconvenience — the next batch may have a slightly different shade. The fix is to calculate properly up front.
Step 1: Measure the area
Multiply length by breadth for each room in feet. Subtract fixed cabinetry areas but not door swings.
Step 2: Add wastage
Add 10% for straight laying, 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, and 5% extra for large-format tiles which break more easily during handling.
Step 3: Divide by box coverage
Every box lists its coverage in sq ft (e.g. 600×600 mm, 4 pcs = 15.5 sq ft). Divide and always round up. Our tile calculator does this for you and also estimates adhesive and grout.
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Shop materials from this guide
Johnson Endura Heavy-Duty Floor Tile 300×300 mm
300×300 mm · Rustic
AED 25.50/box for 200+ boxes
Kajaria Eternity Vitrified Tile 600×600 mm — Statuario Glossy
600×600 mm · Glossy
AED 46.75/box for 150+ boxes
Black Galaxy Granite Slab — Polished 18 mm
Slab (up to 9×5 ft) · Glossy
AED 7.25/sq ft for 500+ sq ft
Greenlam Mikasa Engineered Wood Flooring — Oak
1210×165 mm · Matt
Mangalore Clay Roof Tile — Traditional
12 mm · Natural
Wienerberger Koramic Clay Roof Tile
15 mm · Natural
Makrana White Marble — 18 mm
Slab (random) · Glossy
AED 9.45/sq ft for 500+ sq ft
SPC Rigid Core Vinyl Plank — Waterproof 5 mm
1220×180 mm · Matt
AED 67/box for 60+ boxes
Kajaria Ceramic Wall Tile 300×450 mm — Glossy Highlighter
300×450 mm · Glossy
Somany Duragres Porcelain Tile 800×1600 mm — Matt Concrete
800×1600 mm · Matt
AED 138.75/box for 100+ boxes
