How Many Deck Tiles Do I Need?
Deck tiles are sold by the pack but a balcony or patio is measured by area. Here is how to turn your square feet or square metres into a tile count, and then into the number of packs to buy.
By the Calculate My Reno Team / Published
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Open the Deck Tile Calculator
Deck tiles are priced by the pack, but you measure the job by area, so the work is turning your square feet or square metres into a tile count - and then into whole packs, with a little extra for cuts.
The formula
Interlocking tiles clip together edge to edge, so unlike grouted floor tile or sand-set pavers there is no joint to add. Each tile covers exactly its own face:
tile footprint = tile length × tile width (no joint - they interlock)
tiles = ceil( area ÷ tile footprint × wastage )
packs = ceil( tiles ÷ tiles per pack )
The deck tile calculator does this for any tile size, pools several areas into one order, and rounds up to whole packs. The two numbers that drive everything are your area and the tile size.
Tiles per square foot and per square metre
These are coverage figures for common tile sizes. Multiply by your area, then add 5-15% for wastage:
| Tile size | Per sq ft | Per m² |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 in (300 × 300 mm) | 1.0 | ~11.1 |
| 13 × 13 in (330 mm) IKEA Runnen | ~0.92 | ~9.2 |
| 12 × 24 in (300 × 600 mm) | ~0.5 | ~5.6 |
| 20 × 20 in (500 × 500 mm) | ~0.36 | ~4.0 |
Bigger tiles cover faster with fewer pieces; the small 12-inch square cuts and turns corners more cleanly on a tight balcony.
Measure the area first
For a simple rectangle the area is length × width. For an L-shaped deck, a balcony plus a landing, or a rounded corner:
- Split an L-shape or odd outline into rectangles and add each as its own area.
- Switch a rounded corner to a circle (enter its diameter); the area is π × (diameter ÷ 2)².
- Add a deck and its path as separate areas - the tiles pool into one count, since an offcut from one edge can start the next.
- Subtract a planter, post or AC unit as an opening so you are not paying to tile over it.
Worked example
A 4 × 3 m balcony in 300 × 300 mm tiles sold 9 to a pack, 10% wastage:
- Area: 4 × 3 = 12 m².
- Tile footprint: 0.30 × 0.30 = 0.09 m².
- Tiles: 12 ÷ 0.09 × 1.10 ≈ 147 tiles.
- Packs: 147 ÷ 9 = 16.3 → 17 packs (153 tiles, 6 spare).
In imperial, a 12 × 10 ft deck in 12 × 12 in tiles sold 10 to a pack with 10% wastage comes out at 132 tiles, which is 14 packs.
Turning packs into a cost
Packs are what you actually pay for, so the cost follows straight from the pack count: packs × price per pack. Interlocking tiles need no adhesive or mortar, so for a plain floor that is most of the bill - add edge strips and corner pieces only where an edge is exposed. The deck tile calculator has a cost section built in: enter your price per pack (and per trim piece) for a material total and a cost per square foot or metre, or switch to an installed rate per square foot to price a fitter against doing it yourself. It covers the tiles and trim only - over grass or an uneven base, budget separately for levelling and compacting the ground.
A few tips
- Read the pack count off the box, not the brand’s website - the same tile can ship in different pack sizes.
- Buy in one batch so the colour matches across the whole floor, and keep the spares for repairs.
- Dry-lay a row first to check the cut tiles land at the far, least-visible edge.
- Next, plan the base and the laying with how to install deck tiles, and pick a material with types of deck tiles compared.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many deck tiles I need?
Divide the area you are covering by the size of one tile, then add a little for wastage. Interlocking tiles butt edge to edge with no gap, so a 12 × 12 in (300 × 300 mm) tile covers exactly one square foot (0.09 m²). A 12 × 10 ft deck is 120 sq ft, so about 132 tiles with 10% wastage; a 4 × 3 m balcony is 12 m² and needs around 147 tiles. The deck tile calculator does it for any tile size and turns the total into packs.
How many deck tiles come in a pack?
It varies a lot by brand. IKEA Runnen comes 9 to a pack (1 m²), many composite and acacia tiles come 6, 10 or 11 per box, and budget plastic tiles can come in 44-packs. Always read the count off the pack, then divide your tile total by it and round up - one tile over a pack boundary still means buying the whole next pack.
How many deck tiles are in a square foot?
A standard 12 × 12 in tile is exactly 1 per square foot, because they interlock with no joint. A larger 12 × 24 in tile covers 2 square feet, so 0.5 per square foot, and IKEA's 13 in (330 mm) Runnen tile is about 0.92 per square foot. Multiply by your area in square feet and add wastage.
How much extra should I buy for cuts?
Add about 5% for a simple square area in a straight grid, 10% if you have a few cut edges, and 15% for a diagonal layout or a fiddly balcony with lots of obstacles to cut around. Keep the spares - dye lots shift between production runs, so a tile bought later may not match.
How do I turn the tile count into a cost?
Once you have the number of packs, multiply by your price per pack - that is the bulk of the bill, since interlocking tiles need no adhesive. Add edge and corner trim if you are finishing exposed edges. The deck tile calculator has a cost section that does this for you: enter your price per pack (and per trim piece) for a material total and a cost per square foot, or switch to an installed rate to price a fitter.