Tools
Tile Calculator
How many boxes to order, with the waste already added for the way you are laying it. The box coverages below are the real ones from our own catalogue — 10.76 sq ft for most zellige, which is exactly one square metre, because the workshops in Fez pack to metric.
The Three Numbers That Matter
Your area, measured whole. Length times width, and do not deduct the window or the outlets. Those tiles get cut from full tiles, and a full tile is what you pay for.
Waste, set by the layout. A straight lay wastes about 15%. A herringbone or a 45° diagonal wastes about 20%, because every tile along every edge is cut at an angle and the offcut is rarely reusable. A room with many corners, niches and obstacles pushes both figures up.
The coverage of one box. This is the number most calculators get wrong, because it is different for every format. Our zellige is 10.76 sq ft a box, bejmat 2×6 is 7.23, and the patterned 8×8 cement and terrazzo tiles are 5.33. Always round the box count up — you cannot buy two-thirds of a box.
And then the rule that costs people the most money: order the whole job in one go. Handmade tile is fired in batches in wood-burning kilns, and batches differ. A top-up bought six weeks later can be visibly a different colour on the same wall.
Common Questions
How much extra tile should I order?
Add 15% to your measured area for a straight or running-bond lay, and 20% for a herringbone, a 45° diagonal or a small mosaic — those cut more tile at every edge. The real variable is how many edges and obstacles your room has, so if the space is full of corners, windows and a range hood, take the higher figure.
Does a herringbone pattern use more tile?
Yes. Every tile along every edge of a herringbone run has to be cut at an angle, and the offcuts are rarely reusable. Budget 20% over your measured area rather than the 15% a straight lay needs.
Should I subtract windows and outlets from my measurement?
No. Measure the full wall or floor. The tiles around a window, an outlet or a range hood get cut from whole tiles, so those whole tiles still have to be bought.
Why do I need to order the whole job at once?
Zellige and terracotta are fired in batches in wood-burning kilns, and colour varies between batches. A top-up ordered six weeks later can be visibly different on the same wall. This is the single most common and most expensive tiling mistake with handmade tile.
How many square feet are in a box?
Most of our zellige comes 10.76 sq ft to a box — exactly one square metre, because the workshops in Fez pack to metric. Bejmat 2×6 is 7.23 sq ft, and the patterned cement and terrazzo 8×8 tiles are 5.33 sq ft. Each product page lists its own coverage.