Kitchen Tile Calculator
Estimate floor tile for a kitchen, with a waste allowance for cuts at cabinets and islands.
Calculator
Free, runs entirely in your browser, and your numbers never leave your device. Results are estimates for planning only.
What this calculator does
Kitchen floors mix open runs with tight cuts at the cabinets, island, and appliances. This tool estimates the tile boxes for a kitchen floor and applies a waste allowance that covers the cuts and the spares you will want for the high-traffic surface.
How to use it
- Enter the kitchen length and width (tile the open floor; cabinets sit on the subfloor).
- Enter the coverage per box for your tile.
- Keep about 10–15% waste for cuts at the island and toe-kicks, then read the boxes.
The formula
Area = length × width. Order area = area × (1 + waste%). Boxes = ⌈order area ÷ pack coverage⌉.
Example calculation
A 10 ft × 12 ft kitchen floor, tile boxes covering 15 sq ft, 10% waste:
- Floor area: 10 × 12 = 120 sq ft
- With 10% waste: 120 × 1.10 = 132 sq ft
- Boxes: ⌈132 ÷ 15⌉ = 9 boxes
Result: 9 boxes — keep a few spares for the busiest floor in the house.
Buying and planning tips
- Tile usually stops at the cabinet toe-kick, so measure the open floor, not wall to wall under cabinets.
- Choose a slip-resistant, hard-wearing tile rated for kitchen floors.
- Plan cut lines so full tiles land at the room's entrance, where the eye goes first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Tiling the full room footprint when cabinets cover part of the floor.
- Skimping on waste for a layout with an island and many appliance cuts.
- Picking a wall tile not rated for floor traffic.
Assumptions and limits
- Tile is assumed to cover the open floor, not the area under base cabinets.
- A 10–15% allowance covers cuts around the island, toe-kicks, and appliances.
- Coverage per box is taken from your input.
Frequently asked questions
How much tile do I need for a kitchen floor?
Measure the open floor area, add about 10–15% for cuts, divide by the coverage per box, and round up. A 10×12 ft kitchen needs around 9 boxes.
Do I tile under the kitchen cabinets?
Usually no — base cabinets sit on the subfloor and tile stops at the toe-kick. Measure the visible floor, not the full room.
What tile is best for a kitchen floor?
Choose a porcelain or floor-rated ceramic with good slip resistance; it stands up to traffic, dropped pans, and spills better than wall tile.
How much waste for a kitchen with an island?
Lean toward 15%. An island and appliance bays add cuts, and the extra also gives you spares for the busiest floor in the home.
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