How the tile calculator works
The waste factor, decoded
Straight layouts cut predictably: 10% covers edge cuts and breakage. Diagonal and offset patterns push it to 15%; herringbone and complex geometries reach 20%+ because every tile cuts twice. The waste factor prices geometry — and skipping it is the single most common tile-buying mistake, because the shortage arrives after the mortar is mixed.
Why spare tiles are forever-tiles
Tile styles discontinue every few years and dye lots vary by production run. Two or three tiles stored in the garage are the difference between a five-minute cracked-tile repair and a full-floor replacement hunt. Every tiler has a story; the calculator's spare-tile line exists so you never get one.
Box math and returns
Tile sells by the box (often 10–15 sq ft), and boxes are the practical ordering unit: order full boxes, keep the extras sealed. Most stores accept unopened-box returns — which turns the waste factor into a free option rather than a cost. Opened boxes and mixed dye lots do not return.