Ceramic Tiles
Quick answer: For a 4 × 5 m room (20 m²) with 60 × 60 cm tiles and 5% extra you need 59 tiles, about 126 kg of tile adhesive (6 × 25 kg bags) and about 3.4 kg of grout (1 × 5 kg bag).
Calculate tile, adhesive and grout quantities
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Guides for this job
How the calculation works
Enter the surface dimensions, tile size, joint width and waste reserve. The calculator adds up the areas, applies the reserve, works out the number of tiles plus adhesive and grout, and rounds them up to whole packs.
Formula and assumptions
Required area = net area × (1 + reserve). Tiles = required area ÷ area of one tile, rounded up. Adhesive ≈ 5 kg/m² (6 kg/m² for formats of 60 cm and above); grout depends on joint width and tile size. Bags are rounded up (adhesive 25 kg, grout 5 kg). Consumption values are indicative – check the manufacturer's data.
Worked example
Room 4 × 5 m = 20 m², 5 % reserve → 21 m². Tile 60 × 60 cm (0.36 m²): 21 ÷ 0.36 = 58.3 → 59 tiles. Adhesive 6 kg/m² × 21 = 126 kg → 6 bags × 25 kg = 150 kg. Grout (3 mm joint) 0.16 kg/m² × 21 = 3.36 kg → 1 bag × 5 kg.
More worked examples
- Room 3 × 4 = 12 m², reserve 10 % → 13.2 m². Tile 30 × 30 cm (0.09 m²): 13.2 ÷ 0.09 = 146.7 → 147 pcs. Adhesive 5 kg/m² × 13.2 = 66 kg → 3 bags of 25 kg.
- 25 m² with a large 80 × 80 cm tile (0.64 m²), reserve 10 % → 27.5 m²: 27.5 ÷ 0.64 = 43.0 → 43 pcs. Adhesive 6 kg/m² × 27.5 = 165 kg → 7 bags of 25 kg.
60 × 60 cm tiles with a 10 % reserve
| Area (m²) | Tiles 60 × 60 (pcs) | Adhesive (kg) | Bags of 25 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 31 | 66 | 3 |
| 20 | 62 | 132 | 6 |
| 30 | 92 | 198 | 8 |
| 50 | 153 | 330 | 14 |
| 100 | 306 | 660 | 27 |
What affects real consumption
- Diagonal or patterned laying increases waste.
- An uneven substrate and a larger notched trowel increase adhesive use.
- Cuts along walls and openings, and rectified versus non-rectified edges.
Common mistakes
- Buying without a reserve, or with too small a reserve for diagonal and complex layouts.
- Using one adhesive consumption for every format; large formats (60 cm and over) need about 6 kg/m².
- Forgetting that tiles are sold by the box, so the real purchase is rounded up to whole boxes.
Frequently asked questions
How much spare tile should I add?
5–10 % is usual for straight laying, more for diagonal or patterned layouts. A reserve also covers future repairs from the same batch.
Why does the amount to buy differ from the calculated amount?
Tiles are sold in boxes, and adhesive and grout in bags, so the quantity is always rounded up to whole packs.
How many tiles do I need for 20 m²?
It depends on the format. For 60 × 60 cm tiles and a 10 % reserve you need 22 m², which is 62 tiles.
How much adhesive per m² for large-format tiles?
The calculator uses 5 kg/m² for smaller tiles and 6 kg/m² for formats from 60 cm, because large tiles need better adhesive transfer.
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Publisher: Art-Visum d.o.o. · Content reviewed:
Calculations use common consumption rates and manufacturers' technical data sheets; results are estimates. Methodology · Standards · About · Worked example