Tile Layout Calculator Brick

A brick layout changes the tile count more than the room size does, because the pattern decides how many tiles get cut — and every cut is tile you bought but did not lay. The honest answer is a range, and this article builds that range step by step, with every number shown so you can check it against the label on the box you buy.

A brick or offset layout staggers each row by half a tile, like brickwork. The cuts are mostly at the ends of rows, so waste sits in the middle of the range. Every figure below is a range, and the label on the box you buy governs. Results on this page are estimates: coverage, pack sizes, yields and prices vary by brand, product line, surface and region, and the label on the product you buy governs. That warning matters more than it sounds — two products that look identical on a shelf can pack differently, cover differently and cost differently, and the only figure that counts at the checkout is the one printed on the exact product in your cart. Keep the range in mind as you read: where this article gives a low end and a high end, plan your order on the high end and keep the receipt for anything unopened.

How the calculation works

The calculator needs four inputs, and each one changes the answer. First, the area: length times width, minus anything that will not be tiled — for a 3×10 ft kitchen backsplash that is 30 sq ft (2.8 sq m) before deductions. Second, the tile size: 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile is typically used for backsplashes and shower walls, and one box typically holds about 40 pieces covering about 5 sq ft — a typical figure from our material data, so the carton label governs. Third, the waste allowance, which is where the pattern lives: a straight or grid layout typically needs 5–10% extra, a brick or offset layout 10–15%, and a diagonal or herringbone layout 15–20%. A brick layout uses the 10–15% range. Fourth, the extras: grout typically covers about 10–25 sq ft per lb, and thinset adhesive typically covers about 40–60 sq ft per 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag.

The formula is short: boxes = (net area × (1 + waste %)) ÷ coverage per box, rounded up. Always round up — a box cannot be bought in fractions, and a half-box shortfall at the end of a job is the most expensive kind of shortfall. Note what the formula leaves out on purpose: it does not assume a single coverage rate. If a retailer quotes one number for coverage, treat it as a starting point and check the carton — the range is the honest figure.

Worked example

Here is the full arithmetic for a 3×10 ft kitchen backsplash, covering 30 sq ft (2.8 sq m) with 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile.

Step 1 — net area. The area to tile is 30 sq ft. Measure each run separately and deduct anything that will not be tiled before you start.

Step 2 — add waste. The layout here uses a 10–15% waste allowance. At 10% waste: 30 × 1.10 = 33 sq ft. At 15% waste: 30 × 1.15 = 34.5 sq ft. So you need to buy for 33–34.5 sq ft of tile.

Step 3 — convert to boxes. One box of 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile typically holds about 40 pieces and covers about 5 sq ft per box — a typical figure from our material data, so check the carton label. 33 ÷ 5 = 6.6 boxes; 34.5 ÷ 5 = 6.9 boxes. Rounded up, that is 7 boxes — buy the high end and keep one unopened box for future repairs.

Step 4 — grout and adhesive. Grout at the typical 10–25 sq ft per lb means about 1.2–3 lb for 30 sq ft. Thinset at 40–60 sq ft per 50 lb bag means 1 bag. Buy the high end of both if your joints are wide or your trowel notch is large.

Scale the same steps for any other area: measure, deduct, apply the waste range for your layout, divide by the per-box coverage on your carton label, and round up. The waste percentage stays tied to the layout, not the room size.

What changes the answer

Three mistakes account for most of the wasted money on a brick layout. The first is measuring once and trusting it — a single wrong wall length multiplies through the whole order. The second is ordering the low end of a range and discovering the shortfall on the last row. The third is ignoring the label: pack sizes and coverage change between product lines, and the calculator's typical figures are a planning aid, not a promise.

Underestimating the pattern. A brick layout on a 3×10 ft kitchen backsplash needs 10–15% extra, not the 5–10% a straight grid needs. Ordering straight-grid waste for a patterned layout is the most common way to run short.

Starting in the wrong place. Patterned layouts look wrong if the first row is laid against the most visible wall without centring. Dry-lay the pattern first, centre it on the room, and only then mix adhesive — moving a set tile is far harder than moving a dry one.

Forgetting the grout. A brick layout in 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile still needs grout: about 1.2–3 lb for 30 sq ft at the typical 10–25 sq ft per lb. Order it with the tile, from the same batch.

Cost guidance

Budgeting for this job means working with ranges, not with a single price. Every cost figure here is a typical retail range — check the current shelf price before budgeting — because tile prices move with brand, product line, region and retailer. Take the box count from the worked example (7 boxes of 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile), multiply it by the shelf price per box on the exact product you have chosen, then add 3 lb of grout at the top of the range and the thinset bags, each priced from the shelf where you buy them. Price the exact product you have chosen, from the shelf where you will buy it, and price the whole job: material, consumables, delivery and any tool hire, not just the headline per-box figure.

The expensive mistake is not the material itself but the second trip: running one box short, or one bag short, and paying delivery — or a weekend lost — to finish a nearly done job. Ordering the high end of the range up front is usually cheaper than ordering twice, and an unopened spare box kept for repairs protects you against dye-lot changes later. If a contractor is doing the work, ask for the labour quote in writing against your measured area and layout, so the material count and the labour price describe the same job.

Step by step: measure, calculate, order

1. Measure the space properly. Take each measurement twice, in feet, and write down every deduction — fixtures, doorways, alcoves — before you multiply anything. A tape measure, a pencil and a sketch beat a guess every time, and inches convert to decimal feet (6 in = 0.5 ft) before they go into the area calculation.

2. Pick the product first, then the layout. Pick the 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile first, then commit to the brick layout — the pattern decision belongs before the order, because it sets the waste range (10–15% here) and the labour.

3. Run the numbers through the calculator. Enter the net area, the tile size (3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway), and the waste percentage for a brick layout. The tool returns a range — 7 boxes for the example above — and you should plan on the high end. Check the carton label against the calculator's assumed 5 sq ft per box.

4. Order from one batch. Order 7 boxes for the example job, all from the same dye lot, and check the lot numbers on the cartons before the tiler starts. Keep the grout and adhesive dry and within their shelf life.

5. Dry-check before you commit. Dry-lay the pattern across the room to check the cuts at the edges and the centring, confirm the substrate is flat and clean, and make sure you have spacers, a level, a suitable trowel and a spare box within reach.

Frequently asked questions

How much grout do I need for 30 sq ft in a brick layout?

Grout typically covers about 10–25 sq ft per lb depending on joint width, so 30 sq ft needs about 1.2–3 lb. The pattern itself does not change the grout much — joint width and tile size do — so buy the high end if your joints are wide.

Is a brick layout harder to install than a straight grid?

Yes — patterned layouts need more cuts, more setting out and more time, and the labour is usually quoted higher for them. The material count is simple, at about 5 sq ft per box, but the setting out is not. Dry-lay the pattern before you mix any adhesive.

Can I mix dye lots if I run short of 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile?

You can, but you should not plan to. Tiles from different dye lots can differ slightly in shade, and the difference is most visible on a floor in daylight. That is why this guide tells you to buy 7 boxes up front for the example job and keep one spare.

How many tiles do I need for a brick layout on 30 sq ft?

About 7 boxes of 3x6 in (7.6x15 cm) subway tile, using the 10–15% waste range for a brick layout. A brick or offset layout staggers each row by half a tile, like brickwork. The cuts are mostly at the ends of rows, so waste sits in the middle of the range. Order the high end and keep an unopened box for repairs.

How much waste should I add for a brick pattern?

Typical waste ranges are 5–10% for a straight or grid layout, 10–15% for brick or offset, and 15–20% for diagonal or herringbone. A brick layout uses 10–15% here. Small rooms, angled walls and lots of fixtures all push you toward the high end of your layout's range.

Related calculators

Results are estimates — verify with the product label. Coverage, pack sizes, yields and prices vary by brand, product line, surface and region; the label on the product you buy governs. Cost figures are typical retail ranges — check the current shelf price before budgeting.