Calculating Tile Waste
Waste is everything you cut off and bin at edges, corners and awkward junctions. How much that adds up to depends mostly on the layout. Rough numbers from the trade: 5–10% on a straight layout, 10–12% for a bond, 15–20% when you go diagonal. Add this allowance to the bare tile count, not to the square metres.
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How to account for waste
- Calculate the pure requirement: room area ÷ tile area.
- Pick the right waste percentage for the layout.
- Multiply the requirement by (1 + waste) and round up.
Formula: Requirement incl. waste = tiles × (1 + waste %)
Example: 100 tiles base requirement, diagonal layout 18% → 100 × 1.18 = 118 tiles.
Practical tips
- Small, complex rooms need more waste than large rectangular ones.
- Large-format tiles waste more per cut – plan a reserve.
- Order a little extra: re-ordering risks a different batch/shade.
Automatic with TileWright
Live calculation as you type, multiple sub-areas, a waste assistant and a visual room designer – fully offline.
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How much waste for a diagonal layout?
Allow 15–20%, since every edge requires angled cuts.