How Much Extra Tile to Buy?
When planning a tile project, the excitement of selecting the perfect design often takes center stage. But there’s an important detail that many people overlook: buying extra tile. Without an adequate allowance, you could risk delays, increased costs, or mismatched tiles down the road. Wondering how much extra tile to buy and why to it? This guide breaks it down for you.
Whether you’re a seasoned DIY’er or working with a professional installer, understanding why and how to plan for extra tiles ensures your flooring project runs smoothly. Here’s everything you need to know.
Whether you’re a seasoned DIY’er or working with a professional installer, understanding why and how to plan for extra tiles ensures your flooring project runs smoothly. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Do We Buy Extra Tiles?
1. Accounting for Installation Cuts and Errors
Tiles aren’t like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly into your space without adjustments. When tiling a room, certain areas, such as the edges where the floor meets the walls, often require tiles to be cut to size. Even with the most experienced tile professional, some tiles may break during the cutting process. While some offcuts can be reused, it’s better to have extra material on hand to avoid running out mid-project.
2. Ensuring a Flawless Finish
Tiles come in batches that vary slightly in color. If you have to buy more tiles later, there’s a high chance the new batch will differ slightly, making it harder to maintain a uniform look. Ordering extra tiles upfront ensures that you’re covered for any adjustments or replacements, all while maintaining consistency in your flooring.
3. Planning for Long-Term Maintenance
Floor tiles are designed to last decades, but accidents happen. Dropped items, heavy furniture, or natural wear and tear can result in cracks or chips. Having extra tiles on hand will allow you to repair or replace damaged tiles in the future, instead of redoing your entire floor because a matching tile is no longer available.
How Much Extra Tile Should You Buy?
The amount of tile you purchase depends on the type of project and tile size. Here’s a helpful guide:
How Much Extra Tile Should You Buy?
The amount of tile you purchase depends on the type of project and tile size. Here’s a helpful guide:
How Much Extra Tile to Buy?
For most standard flooring projects:
Add 10% extra if you’re using standard tile sizes such as 24×48, 30×30, 32×32, and 36×36 inches.
This accounts for standard cuts and minor breakages during installation.
Special Guidelines for Large Format Tiles
For larger tiles, such as 48×48 and 63×63 inches, you should allocate a minimum of 15% extra to account for cutting and waste. However, it’s wise to go with 20% extra to ensure coverage for more complex layouts or unexpected breakages during the installation.
For other large sizes, like 24×48 and 32×32 inches, traditional 10% extra will be enough in most cases.
Special Considerations for Bathrooms
Bathroom floors may require a higher allowance than traditional 10% extra, versus shower walls where the number of the tiles can even be counted.
Keep in mind that, tight spaces result in more frequent cuts and increase the wastage.
For shower wall tiles, add at least one more box of tiles to cover potential mistakes or breakages.
These adjustments are less critical for shower areas where tile quantity is easy to estimate, but having extras provides peace of mind.
For Complex Layouts or Patterns
If your flooring design includes intricate patterns, mosaics, or diagonal layouts, increase the extra tile allowance. Patterns often result in more offcuts and waste compared to simpler layouts.
Add 10% extra if you’re using standard tile sizes such as 24×48, 30×30, 32×32, and 36×36 inches.
This accounts for standard cuts and minor breakages during installation.
Special Guidelines for Large Format Tiles
For larger tiles, such as 48×48 and 63×63 inches, you should allocate a minimum of 15% extra to account for cutting and waste. However, it’s wise to go with 20% extra to ensure coverage for more complex layouts or unexpected breakages during the installation.
For other large sizes, like 24×48 and 32×32 inches, traditional 10% extra will be enough in most cases.
Special Considerations for Bathrooms
Bathroom floors may require a higher allowance than traditional 10% extra, versus shower walls where the number of the tiles can even be counted.
Keep in mind that, tight spaces result in more frequent cuts and increase the wastage.
For shower wall tiles, add at least one more box of tiles to cover potential mistakes or breakages.
These adjustments are less critical for shower areas where tile quantity is easy to estimate, but having extras provides peace of mind.
For Complex Layouts or Patterns
If your flooring design includes intricate patterns, mosaics, or diagonal layouts, increase the extra tile allowance. Patterns often result in more offcuts and waste compared to simpler layouts.
Tips for Buying Extra Tiles
Think About Future Repairs
Tiles are made to last. But Manufacturers often retire designs, making it hard to find matching replacements years down the line. Purchase a few extra boxes to keep in storage for unexpected repairs. This ensures consistency in color and pattern if you need to replace tiles years later.
2. Where to Store Extra Tiles
Tiles don’t require special storages. You can keep them in your garage, under a bed, or in a closet. If you choose to store them outside, you may want to shrink wrap them firmly. Temperature changes or rain won’t effect your tiles. However, tile boxes are made of card board. You may want to protect them in order to know what tiles are in which boxes. Also, carrying tiles in their original boxes will be safer than carrying them without boxes.
Wrapping It Up
Planning for your flooring project involves more than just choosing a tile that looks stunning. Accounting for an extra tile allowance is crucial to ensure a smooth installation process and prepare for future needs. Here’s a quick recap:
Add 10% extra for tile sizes, like 30×30 or 24×48 inches.
For 48×48 and 63×63 tiles, allocate at least 15% extra, but opting for 20% extra gives added security.
Add 20% extra for larger tiles, smaller spaces like bathrooms, or complex designs.
By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid unexpected delays, maintain the quality of your flooring over time, and possibly save money in the long run.
Now that you know how much tile to buy for your flooring project, it’s time to get started!
Tiles are made to last. But Manufacturers often retire designs, making it hard to find matching replacements years down the line. Purchase a few extra boxes to keep in storage for unexpected repairs. This ensures consistency in color and pattern if you need to replace tiles years later.
2. Where to Store Extra Tiles
Tiles don’t require special storages. You can keep them in your garage, under a bed, or in a closet. If you choose to store them outside, you may want to shrink wrap them firmly. Temperature changes or rain won’t effect your tiles. However, tile boxes are made of card board. You may want to protect them in order to know what tiles are in which boxes. Also, carrying tiles in their original boxes will be safer than carrying them without boxes.
Wrapping It Up
Planning for your flooring project involves more than just choosing a tile that looks stunning. Accounting for an extra tile allowance is crucial to ensure a smooth installation process and prepare for future needs. Here’s a quick recap:
Add 10% extra for tile sizes, like 30×30 or 24×48 inches.
For 48×48 and 63×63 tiles, allocate at least 15% extra, but opting for 20% extra gives added security.
Add 20% extra for larger tiles, smaller spaces like bathrooms, or complex designs.
By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid unexpected delays, maintain the quality of your flooring over time, and possibly save money in the long run.
Now that you know how much tile to buy for your flooring project, it’s time to get started!
