Ordering too few tiles means waiting for a second delivery with half a floor down. Ordering far too many wastes money. The good news is that working out the right number is simple, and you only need a tape measure and a calculator.
Step 1: Measure the floor
Measure the length and the width of the space in metres, wall to wall. Measure each dimension in two or three places, because garage walls are rarely perfectly square, and use the largest figure. Then multiply the two numbers together to get the floor area in square metres (m²).
If the garage isn't a simple rectangle, split it into rectangles, work out each one and add them together.
Step 2: Convert square metres to tiles
Every tile covers a fixed area, so the conversion is easy:
- 40 x 40cm vented tiles cover 0.16m² each, so you need 6.25 tiles per m².
- 50 x 50cm PVC and rubber tiles cover 0.25m² each, so you need 4 tiles per m².
- 1 x 1m rubber gym tiles cover 1m² each, so the number of tiles equals your floor area.
Step 3: Add a little extra
Unless your space happens to be an exact number of tiles wide and long, the last row against each wall will need cutting. Add 5 to 10% to your total to cover cuts and the occasional mistake. Go towards 10% if the room has posts, alcoves or an awkward shape.
Worked examples
A typical single garage: 3 x 6m
3 x 6 = 18m². With 40 x 40cm vented tiles that's 18 x 6.25 = 113 tiles, or about 120 once you allow for cuts. That's six packs of 20. With 50 x 50cm PVC tiles it's 72 tiles before cuts.
A large single garage: 6.4 x 3.2m
This is exactly the size of our single garage kit: 128 vented tiles plus 8 ramped edges for the door side, so there's no maths at all.
A double garage: 6.4 x 6.4m
Our double garage kit covers this with 256 tiles and 16 ramped edges. If your double garage is a different size, the same 6.25 tiles per m² rule applies.
Don't forget the edges
Any side of the floor that doesn't run into a wall needs ramped edges, and the garage door threshold always does. Measure each open side in centimetres and divide by the edge length: 40cm for vented tiles, 50cm for PVC tiles. Add a corner piece where two edges meet.
Packs, kits or pallets?
Single tiles are perfect for small areas and repairs. For a whole garage, packs of 20 work out cheaper per tile. Kits bundle tiles and ramps for standard garage sizes, and pallets of 240 or 480 tiles give the lowest price per tile for big workshops, showrooms and trade jobs.
Still not sure?
Send us your measurements, ideally with a quick sketch, and we'll work out exactly what you need. Call 0333 242 2442 or get in touch online.