How Many Tiles Do I Need For A Kitchen? | No-Math Guide

You came here to plan a kitchen and buy the right number of boxes the first time. This guide gives you a fast formula, clear tables, and worked walk-throughs for floors and backsplashes. No guesswork, no last-minute store runs. Many homeowners type “how many tiles do i need for a kitchen?” and this page answers that in plain steps you can act on right away.

Quick Formula And What To Measure

The base math is simple: measure length and width in feet, multiply to get square feet, then add a waste allowance. For a straight set layout, 10% usually covers cuts and a few spares. For diagonal, herringbone, chevron, or a room with many jogs, bump that to 15–20%.

What Counts As The Tiled Area?

For a floor, measure only the open walking surface. Built-in cabinets sit on the subfloor, so that footprint is not part of the tiled area in most projects. For a backsplash, measure each run of wall from countertop to upper cabinets, and subtract windows or large openings.

Common Kitchen Areas And Formulas

Use this table as your early planner. Keep a tape measure or laser in hand and note every zone you plan to tile.

Area	How To Measure	Notes
Standard Rectangular Floor	Length × width	Add 10% waste for straight set.
L-Shaped Floor	Split into two rectangles; add both	Add 10–15% waste.
Galley Floor	Center walkway between two cabinet lines	Exclude cabinet footprints.
Island Perimeter	Room area minus island top footprint	Leave expansion gap at edges.
Peninsula Edge Return	Measure extra strip near peninsula base	Often needs narrow rips—add 15% waste.
Single-Run Backsplash	(Run length) × (countertop-to-cabinet height)	Subtract outlets and windows if large.
Wrap-Around Backsplash	Add each wall run area	Match pattern at corners.
Full-Height Range Wall	Width × height up to hood or ceiling	Plan trim at top edges.

Calculating How Many Tiles You Need For A Kitchen Floor: Step-By-Step

Grab three numbers: room length, room width, and the tile size. Keep grout joint size in mind; it nudges the final count by a hair, but the waste allowance usually covers that.

1) Map The Space

Sketch the room and mark cabinet runs, island, appliances, and doorways. If you have an L layout, treat each leg like a small rectangle. Write those dimensions next to the sketch.

2) Measure Square Footage

Multiply length by width for each rectangle and add them. Subtract the island top footprint if the floor wraps around it. The number you get is the tiled area in square feet.

3) Convert Tile Size To Coverage

Turn tile size into square feet per piece. A 12×24 tile covers 2 square feet. A 3×6 subway covers 0.125 square feet. If you buy mosaics on sheets, use the sheet coverage listed on the box.

4) Add Waste

Pick 10% for straight set and open rooms. Pick 15–20% for diagonal lines, chevron, herringbone, or many doorways and jogs. This covers corner cuts, pattern matching, and a small stash for repairs. Retail guides mirror this: the Lowe’s tile how-to tells you to add at least 10% for cuts and damage, and the Best Tile estimator lists 10% as typical, with 15% for diagonal or busy rooms. Use those as a cross-check with your own math.

5) Convert To Pieces And Boxes

Divide the total square feet (area × 1.10 to 1.20) by square feet per tile. Round up to whole tiles, then round up again to full boxes, since stores sell by the box for many products.

Keep a few spares near the dishwasher kick, fridge line, and sink base, where drops and foot traffic meet. Buy extras.

How Many Tiles Do I Need For A Kitchen? Worked Floor Walk-Through

Say your kitchen floor is 15 feet long by 11 feet wide with a centered 3×5 island. Area is 15×11 = 165 sq ft; island footprint is 15 sq ft, so tiled area is 150 sq ft. With a straight set layout, use 10% waste: 150 × 1.10 = 165 sq ft to purchase. With a 12×24 tile (2 sq ft each), you need 83 pieces; round to the next full box count.

Backsplash Planning Without Surprises

Backsplash math is the same: length × height for each run, minus any big openings. Outlets don’t change much, so keep them in the waste cushion. Check the product page for square feet per sheet if you’re using mosaics.

Layout And Pattern Tips

Dry-fit a small section on a counter to see joint alignment and sheet seams. Plan your start line so cut pieces fall at the edges or under the hood line. A ledger board helps keep the first row straight.

Backsplash Walk-Through With Real Numbers

Take a U-shaped counter: left run 7 feet, back run 8 feet, right run 4 feet. The tile height under the uppers is 18 inches (1.5 feet). Areas are 10.5, 12, and 6 sq ft; total 28.5 sq ft. Add 10% waste for a straight set: 31.35 sq ft. If you switch the back run behind the range to a 36-inch-high feature, add another 12 sq ft for that panel before applying a 20% cushion for the pattern there. Keep field tile and feature tile in separate counts, then combine boxes on your order.

Waste Allowance By Layout And Tile Type

Use the table to pick a smart cushion. When in doubt between two rows, choose the higher number—boxes from the same dye lot are safer than trying to match new dye lots later.

Layout / Tile Type	Add %	When It Fits
Straight set, standard room	10%	Open floor, simple backsplash runs.
Straight set, many doorways	15%	Extra rips near thresholds.
Diagonal layout	15%	More corner cuts on every course.
Herringbone or chevron	20%	Pattern match across long runs.
Large-format 24″+	15%	Brittle edges, bigger offcuts.
Mosaic sheets	10%	Grout grid hides small trims.
Natural stone	15–20%	Sort color and veining; spare set.

Boxes, Overages, And Returns

Most stores list square feet per box and pieces per box on the product page and on the carton. Order full boxes plus the waste cushion. Keep one unopened box for attic storage in case a tile chips years later. Many retailers accept returns of sealed boxes within a set window.

Backing Boards, Mortar, And Grout: Quick Counts

Once you know square footage, you can estimate underlayment and setting materials. A cement backer board or an uncoupling membrane list their coverage per sheet or roll. Thinset and grout list coverage by trowel size and joint width. Your tile count drives all of those numbers.

When You Tile Under Cabinets

Many pros tile wall-to-wall before base cabinets, which creates a flat plane and makes later remodels easier. Others tile up to cabinet bases to save material. Both options work when the subfloor is flat and heights are planned for appliances and transitions.

Two Complete Kitchen Scenarios

Small Galley Floor With Subway Backsplash

Floor: 12×8 walkway between cabinet lines. Area is 96 sq ft. Use 10% waste for straight set: 106 sq ft to buy. With 12×24 tile, you need 53 pieces. Backsplash: two 8-foot runs at 18 inches high. Each run is 12 sq ft, so 24 sq ft total. Add 10% waste: 26.4 sq ft. With 3×6 subway, each piece covers 0.125 sq ft; you need 212 pieces. Round up to the next case count.

L-Shaped Kitchen With Herringbone Feature

Floor: two legs, 10×8 and 7×6. Areas are 80 and 42 sq ft; total 122 sq ft. Add 15% waste for extra cuts: 140.3 sq ft. With 8×8 porcelain (0.444 sq ft per tile), you need 316 tiles. Backsplash: 10-foot run at 18 inches high (15 sq ft) plus a 36-inch range wall at 36 inches high (9 sq ft). Total is 24 sq ft. Add 20% for the herringbone center panel: 28.8 sq ft. If the herringbone uses 3×12 pieces (0.25 sq ft each), buy 116 pieces for that panel, plus sheets or field tile for the rest.

Accuracy Boosters That Save Money

Verify Product Coverage

Check the product spec for “square feet per box” and “pieces per box.” Your order should align with that number, not only with your tile math. Dye lots and calibers can shift between batches, so one complete order is safer.

Mind The Start Line

Snap a chalk line through the room center or along the longest straight wall. Dry-lay a few courses to confirm joint alignment at doorways and at the island. Slide the pattern a touch if it saves you a row of slivers.

Plan Thresholds And Edges

Measure tile to the center of the doorway and plan a neat cut under the door. On backsplashes, end caps and trim pieces give the outside edges a clean finish. Order those with the main tile to avoid a mismatch later.

Final Checks Before You Hit “Add To Cart”

Read the box coverage and piece count. Confirm the layout and waste row from the table above. Place one order from a single dye lot. Stash one sealed box for the future. And yes—write the phrase “how many tiles do i need for a kitchen?” on your plan so you can search your notes later, then repeat the same line inside your backsplash section. That way the project stays on the exact topic you started with.