How to Calculate Tile Using Two Different Sizes

Choose your tile. Notate the exact width, depth and length of your selections.

Measure the width and length of the area you plan to cover with tile. Work in feet or convert your measurements to inches for greater accuracy. Multiply the width times the length of the area. For instance, if you are installing an 18-inch deep backsplash, measure each area that will be covered with tile. If one wall of the backsplash is 12 feet wide, you would multiply 12 x 1.5 to calculate the total square feet. In this example, the answer is 18 square feet. Because there are 144 square inches in a square foot, you will need 2,592 square inches of tile (18 times 144).

Calculate how much tile you will need for your border or accent pieces. For this example, assume that you have selected a 4-inch by 2-inch border. To cover 12 feet (or 144 inches), divide 4 (the tile length) into 144. You will need 36 pieces of tile for your border. Each 4-inch by 2-inch border tile is 8 square inches. Multiply the 36 by 8 to get the total number of square inches used by your border. In this example, the answer is 288 square inches.

Subtract the total number of square inches for the border from the total square inches of tile needed. Using the same example, 2,592 minus 288 is 2,304 square inches. For this example, 4-inch by 4-inch squares have been selected for the tile field. Each 4-inch by 4-inch field tile is 16 square inches. Divide 16 into 2,304. You will need 144 squares to complete this section of backsplash.

Figure out how much extra tile you will need to account for tiles lost due to waste, such as improperly cut tile or breakage. If you use a professional installer, plan for five percent waste. Multiply the total tiles needed, in both sizes, by 1.05. If you are installing your own tile, plan for 10 percent waste. Multiply the total tiles needed in both sizes by 1.10. If you are doing a diagonal installation, have lots of corners, jogs or curves, plan for 15 percent waste. Multiply the total tiles needed in both sizes by 1.15.