Tile quantity calculation involves measuring and calculating the number of tiles needed to cover a surface area, such as a floor or wall, to ensure that the job is completed correctly and efficiently. This is a necessary process when it comes to tiling, as it helps to prevent costly mistakes and over-ordering of materials.
The formula used to calculate the number of tiles
The formula used to calculate the number of tiles needed to cover a surface area is:
(Number of tiles) = (Area to be tiled) / (Area of each tile)
where:
- Number of tiles: the total number of tiles needed to cover the surface area
- Area to be tiled: the total size of the surface to be covered with tiles, measured in square units (e.g. square feet or square meters)
- Area of each tile: the area covered by each tile, measured in the same units as the area to be tiled.
Unit conversion to calculate the number of tiles
Inches to feet conversion –
To convert inches to feet, you can divide the number of inches by 12, since there are 12 inches in 1 foot.
For example, to convert 36 inches to feet, divide 36 by 12 to get 3 feet.
Feet to inches-
To convert feet to inches, you can multiply the number of feet by 12, since there are 12 inches in 1 foot.
For example, to convert 5 feet to inches, multiply 5 by 12 to get 60 inches.
Steps to calculate the number of tiles required
Measure the length & width of the area you want to cover with tiles. If necessary, convert the measurements to the same unit of measurement (for example feet or inches).
- Determine the size of the tiles you plan to use, usually measured in inches or centimeters.
- Convert the tile size to the same unit of measurement as the area you want to cover, if necessary.
- Calculate the area of each tile by multiplying the length and width of the tile.
- Determine the total area of the space you want to cover by multiplying the length and width of the space.
- Divide the total area of the space by the size of each tile to calculate the number of tiles needed.
- Round up to the nearest whole number to account for extra tiles needed to cover partial areas or any waste due to cuts or breakage during installation.
How to apply these steps
Let’s say you have a room that is 12 feet by 10 feet and you want to cover the floor with 12-inch by 12-inch tiles.
1. Measure the length & width of the room in feet:
Length = 12 feet
Width = 10 feet
2. Determine the size of the tiles:
Tile size = 12 inches by 12 inches
3. Convert the tile size to feet:
Tile size = 1 foot by 1 foot (12 inches / 12 inches per foot)
4. Calculate the area of each tile:
Tile area = 1 foot x 1 foot = 1 square foot
5. Determine the total area of the room:
Room area = Length x Width = 12 feet x 10 feet = 120 square feet
6. Divide the total area of the room by the size of each tile to calculate the number of tiles needed:
Number of tiles = Room area / Tile area = 120 square feet / 1 square foot per tile = 120 tiles
Problem-2
Let’s say you have a rectangular room that measures 10 feet by 8 feet and you want to cover the floor with tiles that are 6 inches by 6 inches.
First, convert the room dimensions from feet to inches to make the calculations easier.
(We can also solve this problem by converting tiles size from inches to feet)
Length = 10 feet x 12 inches per foot = 120 inches
Width = 8 feet x 12 inches per foot = 96 inches
Calculate the area of the room in square inches by multiplying the length and width:
Area = Length x Width = 120 inches x 96 inches = 11,520 square inches
Convert the tile dimensions from inches to square inches:
Tile size = 6 inches x 6 inches = 36 square inches
Divide the total area of the room by the area of each tile to determine how many tiles are needed:
Number of tiles = Total area / Tile size
Number of tiles = 11,520 square inches / 36 square inches per tile = 320 tiles
Problem-3
A wall has dimensions of 8 feet by 10 feet, and you plan to cover it with tiles that are 4 inches by 4 inches. How many tiles will you need?
Solution
First, convert the dimensions of the wall to inches
8 ft x 12 inches = 96 inches
10 ft x 12 inches = 120 inches
Area of the wall = 96 x 120 = 11,520 square inches
Size of each tile in square inches = 4 x 4 = 16 square inches
No of tiles = Total area of wall/Tile size
= 11,520/16
= 720 tiles
