Floors & Decorating reference

Tile Sizes & Tiles per Square Metre: Calculation Guide

Calculate tile face area and the theoretical number of tiles per m² before adding cuts and waste.

Reviewed 16 August 2026UK metric-first
Construction illustration for Tile Sizes & Tiles per Square Metre: Calculation Guide

Convert millimetres to metres

A 600 × 300 mm tile is 0.6 × 0.3 m, giving a nominal face area of 0.18 m².

Theoretical tiles per square metre

Divide 1 m² by the face area of one tile. For a 0.18 m² tile, the theoretical figure is about 5.56 tiles per m² before layout and waste.

Do not round down

Tiles are bought as whole units or boxes. Apply the chosen cutting allowance and round the final order up.

Pattern and joints affect the real job

The face-area calculation is a quantity starting point; layout, cuts, niches and batch matching can increase the order.

Use the numbers in a calculator

Accuracy note

Where a figure depends on a product, supplier, installation method or project specification, use the current information for the exact material being purchased. The reference pages explain the maths and estimating logic; they are not a substitute for current technical data.