How much extra subway tile should I buy?

Backsplashes with cuts around outlets benefit from 10% waste on straight runs; herringbone or diagonal patterns need 15%.

How much tile waste should I add?

Straight layouts: 10% extra. Diagonal, herringbone, or lots of cuts: 15%. Our pattern toggle applies the right factor automatically.

How do I calculate tiles for a 12×12 floor?

Each 12×12 tile covers 1 ft². Divide your area by tile size, multiply by (1 + waste), round up. Example: 100 ft² straight lay → 110 tiles at 10% waste.

Subway Tile Calculator (3×6)

Classic 3×6 subway tile preset. Measure your wall area in ft² and enter tiles per box from your product.

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Project size

Floor/wall area (ft²)

Tile size preset

Tile width (in)

Tile height (in)

Layout pattern

Waste factor (10%)Bump to 15–20% for small rooms, lots of cuts, or herringbone

Tiles per box

Price per box ($, optional)

Price per tile ($, optional)

Result

880 tiles

88 boxes (10 per box) · 10% waste

Tile area 0.125 ft² (3×6 in)
100 ft² ÷ 0.125 × (1 + 10%) = 880 tiles

10% straight-lay and 15% diagonal waste follow standard installer allowances. Tile area = (W × H) ÷ 144 ft². Full methodology

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Classic 3×6 subway tile preset. Measure your wall area in ft² and enter tiles per box from your product.

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Frequently asked questions

How much extra subway tile should I buy?: Backsplashes with cuts around outlets benefit from 10% waste on straight runs; herringbone or diagonal patterns need 15%.
How much tile waste should I add?: Straight layouts: 10% extra. Diagonal, herringbone, or lots of cuts: 15%. Our pattern toggle applies the right factor automatically.
How do I calculate tiles for a 12×12 floor?: Each 12×12 tile covers 1 ft². Divide your area by tile size, multiply by (1 + waste), round up. Example: 100 ft² straight lay → 110 tiles at 10% waste.

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Frequently asked questions

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