How to Measure for Tile

Tile is sold per square foot, so before ordering tile for a do-it-yourself job it is necessary to figure out how much tile you need. By taking the linear measurements of the area needing to be tiled, it is fairly easy to calculate how many square feet the area is.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape measure
• Calculator (optional)

1. Measure the length of the room needing tile.

2. Measure the width of the room needing tile.

3. Multiply the width by the length to get the total square footage of the area to be tiled. If the area is not square, break the room into smaller squares, measure the length and width of each of those, then add the area of the smaller squares together. If there is an object in the middle of the floor, such as a bathtub or a kitchen island, measure the length and width of the area covered by the object and subtract it from the total square footage.

4. Multiply the total square footage by 10% (or .10) and add this value to the total square footage. Because many of the tiles used will be cut, it is good to order about 10% more tiles than you figure you will need. Also, having extra tiles on hand will assure you have enough if some break or are not as attractive. Extras can often be returned to the store for a refund, or kept in case a tile breaks in the future.

5. Calculate the total linear feet you will need for border tiles by simply measuring the length of the area you wish to tile. Add ten percent to this value as well. If you add border tiles, this should not influence the number of square tiles you will need.