Tile Calculator: Tiles, Boxes, Thinset & Grout

Tiles needed

11 boxes of 12 × 12 in tile for 100 sq ft · straight / offset layout, 10% waste

Boxes10 tiles per box · 110 sq ft bought

Thinset, 50 lb1/4 × 1/4 in square notch trowel, 90 sq ft per bag

Grout, 25 lb≈ 7.5 lb of sanded grout

Material cost$385 – $440 · tile, thinset, grout

Key takeaways

Hiring a pro typically runs $1,000 – $5,000 for this area — about 7.3× the DIY material cost.
11 boxes hold 110 tiles, 2 more than the 108 needed — keep spares for future repairs.

Detailed numbers

DIY materials vs hiring a pro
Option	Estimated cost	What it covers
DIY (this estimate)	$385 – $440	Tile, thinset and grout only
Professional install	$1,000 – $5,000	$10–$50/sq ft national range, materials and labor

The pro range is a national figure covering basic ceramic through complex porcelain or stone jobs; get local quotes.

Tiles needed by layout
Layout	Waste	Tiles	Boxes
Straight	10%	108 tiles	11 boxes
Diagonal	15%	113 tiles	12 boxes
Herringbone	20%	118 tiles	12 boxes

Show the math

Area = 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft
+ 10% waste = 110 sq ft
Each tile with its joint covers (12 + 0.125) × (12 + 0.125) ÷ 144 = 1.0209 sq ft
110 ÷ 1.0209 = 107.74 → 108 tiles → 11 boxes of 10
Thinset: 100 sq ft ÷ 90 sq ft per 50 lb bag (1/4 × 1/4 in square notch) = 1.11 → 2 bags
Grout joint volume = 144 × (12 + 12) ÷ (12 × 12) × 0.125 × 0.375 = 1.125 cu in per sq ft
× 100 sq ft × 0.0608 lb/cu in × 1.1 = 7.5 lb → 1 × 25 lb bags