Tile Waste Factor: How Much Extra to Order
The waste factor is the single number that separates a clean tile order from a mid-install supply run. It is not one figure — it scales with the pattern, the tile size and the material.
Waste by layout and tile size
Straight, grid layouts waste the least (~10%). Diagonal, herringbone and checkerboard need 15–20%+ because every edge is a cut. Large-format tiles waste more per cut; mosaics forgive more. Rooms with many corners, niches and fixtures push the number up. The tile calculator applies the right factor by pattern.
Why under-ordering is expensive
Come up short and you lose a day to a supply run, and a new batch of natural stone or even a re-run of porcelain may not match the color. Ordering attic stock now is cheaper than a mismatch or delay later — a point worth putting in front of the client on the quote.
FAQ
Is 10% waste always enough?
Only for simple straight layouts. Diagonal, herringbone and cut-heavy rooms need 15–20% or more, and natural stone needs extra for matching.
Why does herringbone waste more tile?
Every tile along a wall or edge is cut at an angle, so more of each cut tile is scrap compared with a straight grid.