Buildy Buddy

When to Use This Calculator

Use the Tile Layout Calculator before starting any tile project — floors, backsplashes, shower walls, or patios. Proper layout planning prevents the frustrating and unprofessional outcome of ending a row with a tiny sliver of tile along a wall. Planning also lets you order the correct quantity upfront, since border cuts generate more waste than full-tile rows.

How It Works

Enter your surface dimensions and tile size, and the calculator shows how many full tiles fit in each direction, what size the border cuts will be, and whether a centered layout or corner-start layout gives better-looking results. Grout joint spacing is included in every calculation so the output matches real-world conditions, and a visual preview shows the pattern before you commit to a starting point.

Tips for Best Results

• The general rule is that no border tile should be less than half a tile wide — anything smaller looks like an afterthought and is difficult to cut cleanly without chipping.
• Start your layout from the center of the most visible wall and work outward. This ensures any narrow cuts are hidden in the least visible areas of the room.
• For floors, dry-lay a full row of tiles in both directions before setting anything to verify the calculator's results match your actual tile size, including manufacturing variation.
• Grout joint width matters more than you might think on large surfaces — even 1/16" difference per joint adds up to inches over a full room width.