How To Calculate How Many Tiles You Need For Your Home

DISCLAIMER - This is a guide only and Tilesporcelain Ltd is not liable for the finished tiling project.

If you’re updating your kitchen or bathroom, a tiled wall is a practical but attractive option. Porcelain tiles are particularly good for the kitchen and they come in a wide variety of colours and finishes, making them an ideal choice whatever your style. If you’re opting for a vibrant look, with bold shades or even clashing colours, you can mix and match your kitchen tiles to suit your tastes while plain tiles in classic shades look great for modern, minimalist interiors; a tiled kitchen can also work well as part of a rustic look and you may even be able to pick up some old tiles to channel that country aesthetic.

In the bathroom, tiles are the most common wall covering as they can be fashionable as well as functional. While in the bathroom, as in the kitchen, porcelain tiles work well for a lively, colourful look, many people opt for quartz tiles as these create a fresh, clean feel. Nowadays, the bathroom is not simply the place where we shower and clean our teeth, it can be a real sanctuary, where we go to wind down and pamper ourselves with spa-style treatments. Carefully chosen bathroom tiles can really transform a bland bathroom into a beautiful one.

Whether you opt for brand new tiles, or forage for vintage finds, you’ll need to work out how many tiles to buy before you can get started on updating your kitchen or bathroom. First of all, decide whether you’re going to tile the entire wall on every side, or whether you would prefer to tile half way up the wall and paint the upper part, which won’t be touched by water. In the bathroom, you’ll need a fully tiled wall next to the bath or shower, to prevent water-damage to the paintwork. In the kitchen, many people opt for a partially tiled wall with a band of porcelain tiles on the wall space directly above the worktop, to protect the wall from staining with food and water.

To calculate how many tiles you need, you’ll have to work out the surface area of the tile, and of the wall, or part of the wall, that you want to cover. Start by measuring the length and height of the tile: multiply the two values together to find the surface area. Do the same for each wall, measuring the width and height of the wall before multiplying these values together. Make sure you use the same measurement unit for both the tiles and the wall – it’s best to measure both the tiles and the wall in centimetres to avoid confusion. Now, divide the surface area of the wall by the surface area of the tiles – this is the number of tiles you will require to cover your wall. Most tiles are square, though if your tiles are rectangular you may have to work out how many you need lengthwise and widthwise. When you have calculated the number of tiles you will need to buy, add an additional 10% to that figure, to allow for breakages and wastage if you need to cut your kitchen or bathroom tiles. With careful calculations, you should have enough tiles, with spares for unfortunate accidents, without splashing too much cash!