Worked example / 10×10 ft kitchen

10×10 ft kitchen with 18×18 in tile: 9 boxes, $528.50

For a 10×10 ft kitchen (10 × 10 ft, 9 ft walls) covered in 18×18 in tile using the “Standard grid (10% allowance)” layout pattern, RoomTakeoff's quantity method computes 9 tile boxes for a grid of 7 columns by 7 rows (49 cells), 2 gallons of wall paint, 41 linear ft of trim, and an entered-price material total of $528.50, as of 2026-09-11 (RoomTakeoff, method 1.0.0).

Floor area
100 sq ft
Tile boxes
9
Wall paint
2 gal
Trim
41 linear ft
Grout
1 bag
Material total
$528.50
Purchase and installation schedule
StageMaterialQuantityEstimated costDependency
1 · VerifySubstrate / waterproofingNot calculatedNot includedConfirm substrate, flatness, moisture, and installation system
2 · OrderTile9 boxes$324.00Confirm lot, orientation, transitions, and actual box contents
3 · OrderGrout1 bag$12.00Generic coverage formula; confirm with your grout product
4 · FinishWall paint2 gallons$90.00Surface preparation and manufacturer coverage
5 · FitTrim41 linear ft$102.50Finished floor elevation and opening measurements

How the 9 boxes are worked out

The grid needs 49 whole tiles (7 × 7, each partial edge cell counted as a full tile). Adding the 10 percent allowance gives 54 tiles, and at 6 tiles per box that rounds up to 9 boxes, or 54 tiles with 5 beyond the bare grid. Walls: 360 sq ft gross minus 40 sq ft of openings leaves 320 sq ft, which at 2 coats needs 2 gallons. Trim: 40 ft of perimeter minus a 3 ft door, plus the allowance, is 41 ft.

Waste by layout in this room

10×10 ft kitchen, 18×18 in tile: boxes by layout pattern
Layout patternTiles orderedBoxes
Standard grid (10% allowance)549
Straight lay, clean cuts (5% allowance)529
Brick or diagonal offset (15% allowance)5710
Herringbone or complex (20% allowance)5910

A diagonal or offset lay (15 percent planning allowance) needs 10 boxes here against 9 boxes for a straight lay with clean cuts (5 percent), a difference of 1 box. The drawing and grid count always assume a straight grid; only the allowance changes.

Assumptions behind this number

This worked example uses a 9 ft ceiling, 40 sq ft of wall openings, a 3 ft door/opening deduction from trim, a 0.125 in grout joint, 6 tiles per box, 2 paint coats at 350 sq ft per gallon coverage, and the Standard grid (10% allowance) tile/trim allowance. Every tile cell, including a partial edge cell, consumes one whole tile: there is no offcut reuse, movement-gap, or irregular-room modeling. Change any of these assumptions in the live planner below to match your actual room, tile, and prices; this page is a starting estimate, not a purchase order. Waste percentages (5, 10, 15 and 20 percent), 350 sq ft per gallon paint coverage, 2 coats and a 1/8 in grout joint are RoomTakeoff planning assumptions, not figures taken from a manufacturer or standards document. Check the label on your tile, paint and trim, and confirm installation practice with the tile manufacturer or the Tile Council of North America resources linked below.

Reference sources

Tile Council of North America installation resources EPA renovation lead-safety information

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