Diagonal Tile Calculator
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Laying tile on the diagonal? This presets the calculator to a 45° layout, previews it to scale, and counts tiles, boxes and cut pieces - including the extra edge cuts a diagonal pattern adds versus a straight grid.
Pick a tile, pattern and colour below - the floor updates instantly.
Tiles to buy (incl. extra)
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Boxes needed
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💡 Buy 1–2 boxes extra for cuts and breakage.
Total area: - · Tiles to cut (estimate): - · Whole tiles (uncut): -
⚠️ Start tiling from the center - a wall start leaves ugly slivers.
How much extra to order for diagonal
A diagonal layout turns every perimeter tile into a triangle, so you cut more and waste more than a straight grid. Plan on about 15% overage. The waste field defaults to 10% for a grid - raise it to 15% for diagonal before ordering.
Cutting & setting out
Square tiles are rotated 45° to the walls. The field is straightforward, but the border is all half-tile triangles, which need a wet saw and steady setting-out from the room's centre. Snapping a 45° chalk line first keeps the whole floor true.
Where diagonal works best
- Small bathrooms and entryways - the diagonal lines make a room read wider
- Square tiles you want to feel less boxy
- Breaking up long, narrow rooms
Frequently asked questions
- How much waste for a diagonal tile floor?
- Budget about 15% extra. Every tile around the edge is cut into a triangle and the offcuts rarely reuse cleanly, so a diagonal layout wastes more than the ~10% of a straight grid.
- Does laying tile diagonally make a room look bigger?
- Usually, yes. Diagonal lines draw the eye to the widest points of the room and hide out-of-square walls, which is why it's a favourite for small bathrooms and entryways.
- Is a diagonal layout hard to set out?
- The field is easy once your 45° reference lines are right, but getting those lines square and centred takes care, and the all-triangle border means more saw work than a grid.