How the calculation works
A worked example
A 4 × 5 m room covers 20 m². With 7% waste, it needs 21.4 m²: 15 cartons at 1.44 m² per carton, or 20 cartons at 1.08 m², excluding skirting.
How many square metres are in a 60 × 60 tile box?
A 60 × 60 cm tile carton can cover 1.44 m² or 1.08 m², depending on the product. Saudi Ceramics lists those two coverages for different products of that size: FT 250-11690 at 1.0 cm thickness and FT 250-12604 at 1.5 cm. Tile dimensions alone therefore cannot determine carton quantity.
Tile area in square metres = length in centimetres × width in centimetres ÷ 10,000. The table is an area comparison before joints and cuts. For ordering, use the square metres printed on the chosen carton and allow for layout waste and any skirting. The quantity method works for ceramic and porcelain, with each product kept separate.
| Tile dimensions | Area per tile | Theoretical tiles/m² before cuts |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 cm | 0.09 m² | Approx. 11.11 |
| 30 × 60 cm | 0.18 m² | Approx. 5.56 |
| 60 × 60 cm | 0.36 m² | Approx. 2.78 |
| 60 × 120 cm | 0.72 m² | Approx. 1.39 |
A worked skirting calculation in linear metres
Measure skirting in linear metres: room perimeter minus door widths and other lengths receiving no skirting. A 4 × 5 m room has an 18 m perimeter; a 1 m doorway leaves 17 linear metres. That length is a different quantity from the 20 m² floor area.
In the geometric model, a 60 × 60 cm tile yields six 10 cm-high strips, each 0.6 m long, before saw kerf. At 17 m of skirting and 7% waste, the result is 31 strips after rounding, requiring six whole tiles. Have the tiler check the cutting plan and exposed edges; actual usable strip yield may be lower.
Measure each surface that uses the same tile
Start with the room's floor length and width in metres. For an irregular room, divide the plan into rectangles that do not overlap and add their areas. Do not subtract an area simply because furniture will stand there; confirm which surfaces the tiling scope actually excludes.
Wall tiling is a separate surface. Multiply the relevant perimeter by the tiled height and deduct the openings within it. Combine wall and floor areas only when they use the same product. A single purchase figure cannot cover different colours, finishes or product references, even if all their tiles measure 60 × 60 cm.
Why a 4 × 5 m room can need 15 or 20 cartons
The floor area is 4 × 5 = 20 m². At 7% waste, the required area becomes 20 × 1.07 = 21.4 m². Divide by 1.44 m² per carton to get 14.8611 cartons and round up to 15. If the selected carton covers 1.08 m², the result is 19.8148, rounded up to 20 cartons.
Both orders supply 21.6 m². A 60 × 60 cm tile covers 0.36 m², so four pieces give 1.44 m² while three give 1.08 m². The difference comes from the packaging. Always update the carton field when comparing another product instead of carrying over a value from the previous selection.
Set waste from the layout, not just the room size
The calculator starts at 7% for a straight layout and 10% for diagonal or staggered layouts. An additional two percentage points can be selected for a cutting-heavy area. These values let you explore a purchase quantity; they do not replace a tiler's assessment of the setting-out plan.
Corners, narrow strips, direction-sensitive patterns and interruptions all affect whether offcuts are reusable. In the 20 m² example, raising waste to 10% gives 22 m², which needs 16 cartons of 1.44 m². That extra carton follows from rounding: 15 cartons provide only 21.6 m², below the revised requirement.
Add skirting as a separate, visible item
For skirting cut from the floor tile, enter the wall length to be covered after deducting door widths. A 4 × 5 m room has an 18 m perimeter; with a 1 m doorway, the starting skirting length is 17 m. Do not assume this is already covered by the floor waste allowance.
The calculator estimates complete tiles for strips at the chosen height, then adds their area before rounding cartons. The cutting model does not reserve space for the saw kerf or edge finishing. Have the tiler check the actual strip yield, especially when the nominal dimensions divide exactly or the design only allows cutting in one direction.
Separate purchase surplus from cutting waste
Waste is the allowance applied to the measured area. Purchase surplus is the additional area supplied when the order rounds up to full cartons. At 7% in our example, the allowance is 1.4 m² and carton rounding adds another 0.2 m². These are different parts of the same order.
If you want whole tiles for future repairs, discuss that reserve separately and record it clearly. A calculated cutting allowance does not guarantee that a useful number of uncut matching pieces will remain. Check the supplier's product and batch information when confirming the order, together with its return conditions.
Prepare a carton list the supplier can follow
For each product, record the surface area, laying pattern, waste percentage, carton coverage, optional skirting and final carton count. Group rooms using exactly the same product before rounding when practical. Keep different materials on distinct lines so an apparent total area does not obscure what must actually be purchased.
The result covers tiles. Adhesive, grout, trims, waterproofing and other installation materials need their own quantities and specifications. Share the calculation with the tiler, including the assumptions, before ordering. A supplier can confirm the carton contents, while the installer can check how the layout affects usable pieces.
Before you place the order
- Read the square metres per carton on the actual product. Tile size alone does not tell you carton coverage.
- The 7% straight-lay and 10% diagonal or staggered allowances are editable starting assumptions.
- Calculate different products separately, even when floor and wall tiles share a size.
- Skirting assumes strips cut from whole tiles. Saw cuts, edge finishing and the pattern can reduce the practical yield.
Sources and product references
These references explain the method or a specific product. Match the product and specification to your project before ordering.
- Saudi Ceramics: FT 250-11690, 60 × 60 cm
The listed carton coverage for this product is 1.44 m².
- Saudi Ceramics: FT 250-12604, 60 × 60 cm
The listed carton coverage for this product is 1.08 m². Check the actual label before ordering.
Prepared by the KSA Home Calc team. Content and defaults await professional review before launch. Updated: .