Planning a bathroom renovation requires careful calculation of tiles for both floors and walls. Getting the right quantity is essential—ordering too few causes frustrating delays mid-project, while over-ordering wastes money on materials you won't use.
This guide explains how to calculate tile quantities accurately, account for wastage from cuts and breakages, and estimate total costs for your UK bathroom tiling project.
Basic Calculation
1. Calculate area: Length × Width = m²
2. Calculate tiles: Area ÷ Tile size (m²) = number of tiles
3. Add wastage: Tiles × 1.10 (10% extra)
Tiles per Square Metre
| Tile Size (cm) | Tiles per m² |
|---|---|
| 10 × 10 | 100 |
| 15 × 15 | 44 |
| 20 × 20 | 25 |
| 30 × 30 | 11 |
| 30 × 60 | 6 |
| 45 × 45 | 5 |
| 60 × 60 | 3 |
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Wastage Allowance
| Layout | Extra to Add |
|---|---|
| Simple grid (square room) | 10% |
| Complex cuts (alcoves, pipes) | 15% |
| Diagonal pattern | 15-20% |
| Herringbone pattern | 20% |
Typical Bathroom Sizes
| Room Type | Floor Area | Wall Area (full height) |
|---|---|---|
| Small bathroom | 3-4 m² | 20-25 m² |
| Medium bathroom | 5-7 m² | 30-40 m² |
| Large bathroom | 8-12 m² | 45-55 m² |
| En-suite | 2-3 m² | 15-20 m² |
Additional Materials
- Tile adhesive: 2-3 kg per m² (check tile weight)
- Grout: 0.3-0.5 kg per m² for standard tiles
- Primer: Required on some surfaces
- Silicone sealant: For corners and edges
UK Tile Pricing Guide 2025
| Tile Quality | Price per m² | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £10-£25 | B&Q, Wickes, discount stores |
| Mid-range | £25-£50 | Topps Tiles, Tile Giant |
| Premium | £50-£100 | Specialist tile showrooms |
| Designer | £100+ | Boutique suppliers, imports |
Installation Costs UK
Professional tiling labour costs vary by region and complexity:
- Basic floor tiling: £40-£50 per m²
- Wall tiling: £45-£60 per m²
- Complex patterns: £60-£80 per m²
- Wet room installation: £80-£100 per m² (includes tanking)
Medium bathroom (5m² floor, 25m² walls at half height)
Tiles: 17.5m² × £30 = £525 + 10% wastage = £578
Labour: 17.5m² × £50 = £875
Materials (adhesive, grout): ~£120
Total: ~£1,573
Popular Tile Types for Bathrooms
- Ceramic: Affordable, easy to cut, wide colour range
- Porcelain: More durable and water-resistant than ceramic
- Natural stone: Marble, slate, travertine—requires sealing
- Glass mosaic: Decorative, ideal for feature walls
- Large format: Fewer grout lines, modern look
DIY vs Professional Installation
| Factor | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Materials only (~£600) | +£800-£1,500 labour |
| Time | Weekend+ for beginners | 1-3 days |
| Skill required | Medium-high | Expert |
| Warranty | None | Usually 1-2 years |
Common UK Tile Sizes and Their Uses
Choosing the right tile size affects both the look and cost of your bathroom project. Here are the most popular tile sizes available from UK retailers such as Topps Tiles, Wickes, and B&Q:
- 100mm x 100mm (4" x 4"): Small mosaic-style tiles, ideal for splashbacks and decorative borders. Requires more grouting and labour but creates a classic look.
- 150mm x 150mm (6" x 6"): Traditional size popular in period properties. Often used for wall tiling in smaller bathrooms and cloakrooms.
- 200mm x 200mm (8" x 8"): Versatile mid-size tile suitable for both walls and floors. Widely available and affordable at around £15-30 per square metre.
- 300mm x 300mm (12" x 12"): One of the most common floor tile sizes in UK bathrooms. Easy to lay and works well in medium to large rooms.
- 300mm x 600mm (12" x 24"): Rectangular format increasingly popular for wall tiling. The larger format means fewer grout lines and a more contemporary appearance.
- 600mm x 600mm (24" x 24"): Large format tiles that create a seamless look and make small bathrooms appear larger. Best suited to floors and require a very flat substrate.
Calculating Wastage Correctly
Every tiling project requires additional tiles beyond the exact square meterage to account for cuts, breakages, and pattern matching. The standard wastage allowances recommended by UK tilers are:
- Straight layout: Add 10% extra to your total tile area. This is the most common layout and the most economical.
- Diagonal/diamond layout: Add 15% extra. Diagonal cuts at walls produce more waste triangles that cannot be reused.
- Complex patterns (herringbone, chevron): Add 15-20% extra. These patterns involve angled cuts on nearly every edge tile.
- Large format tiles in small rooms: Add 15% extra. More full tiles are wasted when cutting around obstacles like toilets, basins, and pipework.
It is also wise to keep a few spare tiles after the project is complete in case of future damage or repairs. Tile ranges can be discontinued, making it difficult to find exact matches years later.
Grouting: How Much Do You Need?
Grout quantity depends on tile size, joint width, and tile thickness. Here is a rough guide for standard 3mm grout joints:
- 100mm x 100mm tiles: Approximately 1.5 kg of grout per square metre
- 200mm x 200mm tiles: Approximately 0.75 kg per square metre
- 300mm x 300mm tiles: Approximately 0.5 kg per square metre
- 300mm x 600mm tiles: Approximately 0.4 kg per square metre
Most UK grout products come in 2.5 kg or 5 kg bags. A standard 2.5 kg bag typically covers 4-8 square metres depending on tile size and joint width. For wet areas such as showers and bath surrounds, always use waterproof or epoxy grout rather than standard cement-based grout.
Common UK Bathroom Dimensions
Knowing typical bathroom dimensions helps when estimating tile quantities before measuring. Here are standard UK bathroom sizes:
- Small en-suite: Approximately 1.5m x 2.0m (3.0 sq m floor area). Wall tiling to standard height of 2.1m requires roughly 12-15 sq m of wall tiles.
- Cloakroom/WC: Approximately 0.9m x 1.8m (1.6 sq m floor area). Often only partially tiled around the basin area.
- Standard family bathroom: Approximately 2.4m x 2.7m (6.5 sq m floor area). Full wall tiling requires roughly 22-28 sq m of wall tiles.
- Large bathroom: Approximately 3.0m x 3.5m (10.5 sq m floor area). Full wall tiling can require 30-40 sq m of wall tiles.
Most UK bathrooms have a ceiling height of approximately 2.4 metres. Tiling to full height creates a cleaner, more waterproof finish but increases material costs. A common compromise is tiling to 2.1 metres (approximately 7 feet) and painting above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tiles do I need for a standard UK shower enclosure?
A typical UK shower enclosure measures approximately 900mm x 900mm with walls tiled to a height of 2.1 metres. This gives roughly 5.7 square metres of wall area (three walls). Using 300mm x 600mm tiles, you would need approximately 32 tiles plus 10% wastage, totalling around 35 tiles.
Should I use the same tiles on the floor and walls?
You can use floor-rated tiles on walls, but you should not use wall-only tiles on floors. Floor tiles have a higher slip resistance rating and greater durability. In the UK, floor tiles should have a minimum R9 slip resistance rating for bathrooms, or R10-R11 for wet rooms and shower floors.
How much does it cost to tile a bathroom in the UK?
Tile costs in the UK range from £10 per square metre for basic ceramic tiles to over £80 per square metre for premium porcelain or natural stone. Labour costs for a professional tiler typically range from £25 to £50 per square metre, depending on your location and the complexity of the layout. For a standard family bathroom, expect total costs of £800 to £2,500 for materials and labour combined.
What adhesive should I use in a bathroom?
For bathroom tiling, always use a flexible, waterproof tile adhesive. In the UK, products rated C2TE (cementitious, improved, with extended open time) are recommended for bathroom walls and floors. For areas with direct water contact such as showers and bath surrounds, a tanking kit or waterproof membrane should be applied before tiling.
UK Bathroom Renovation Trends and Regulations
Bathroom renovations are among the most popular home improvement projects in the United Kingdom, with homeowners spending an average of 4,000 to 7,000 pounds on a complete bathroom refit according to research by the Federation of Master Builders. The tiling component typically accounts for 25 to 35 percent of the total project cost, making accurate tile calculation essential for budgeting.
In the UK, bathroom renovations must comply with Building Regulations, particularly Part P (electrical safety) and Part G (sanitation, hot water safety, and water efficiency). While tiling itself does not require building control approval, any electrical work in bathrooms (such as installing heated towel rails or underfloor heating beneath tiles) must be carried out by a Part P registered electrician or signed off by local building control. Plumbing alterations may also require notification depending on the scope of work.
Water efficiency is increasingly important in UK bathroom design. Since 2015, Building Regulations have required that new homes limit water consumption to 125 litres per person per day, with an optional tighter standard of 110 litres in water-stressed areas designated by the Environment Agency. When planning a tiled shower or wet room, consider low-flow showerheads (8 litres per minute or less) and dual-flush toilets to meet these standards. Tiling choices affect maintenance and water management, with larger format tiles and fewer grout lines reducing the risk of water penetration behind the tiled surface.
The UK tile market is worth over 600 million pounds annually, with approximately 60 percent of tiles sold being imported from Spain, Italy, and China. British-manufactured tiles, while a smaller market share, are available from producers such as Johnson Tiles and British Ceramic Tile, both based in Stoke-on-Trent, the traditional heart of the UK ceramics industry.
Practical Tiling Tips for UK Homeowners
- Order all tiles from the same batch: UK tile retailers assign batch numbers to production runs. Tiles from different batches can have noticeable colour variations, so order your full requirement plus wastage in a single purchase and check that all boxes share the same batch code.
- Consider underfloor heating compatibility: If you plan to install electric underfloor heating beneath bathroom floor tiles, use a flexible adhesive rated for heated floors (look for S1 or S2 deformability classification) and allow the system to cure for at least 14 days before switching on the heating.
- Use a wet room tanking system for walk-in showers: UK building standards recommend a fully tanked (waterproofed) substrate for any shower area without a tray. Products from brands like Mapei, BAL, and Schluter-DITRA provide reliable waterproofing membranes that are applied before tiling.
- Check VAT on installation labour: If your home is over two years old, bathroom renovation labour may qualify for the reduced 5 percent VAT rate under certain energy-saving measures. However, standard bathroom tiling is generally charged at the full 20 percent VAT rate.
More Bathroom Tiling Questions
Do I need planning permission to tile my bathroom in the UK?
What is the best tile size for a small UK bathroom?
Where can I recycle old bathroom tiles in the UK?
James Mitchell, ACCA
Chartered Accountant & Former HMRC Advisor
James is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) specialising in UK personal taxation and financial planning. With over 12 years in practice and a background as a former HMRC compliance officer, he brings authoritative insight to complex tax topics.