How to Calculate a Square Foot for Tile Installation

Coming up short when laying tile can be costly.

If you plan to install tile flooring in your home, it's essential to determine the installation area's square footage to ensure you have enough tile to complete the job. This task is very important because you lay the mortar before you lay the tile; if you run short of tile and have to go to a store to get more, the mortar will dry before you can finish the project.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure the width of the room with a tape measure. For example, the room's width may be 12 feet.

2. Measure the length of the room. The room's length may be 18 feet, for example.

3. Multiply the width by the length to find the square footage. If the room's measurements were 12 feet and 18 feet, you would multiply 12 by 18, and the result would be 216, the room's square footage.

References

• Ann Sacks: Tile, Stone and Plumbing Basics, Calculating Tile