When ordering tiles, flooring, or other surface materials, one of the most important and often overlooked steps is accounting for wastage. Whether you’re tiling a bathroom, laying outdoor porcelain slabs, or fitting laminate flooring, it’s essential to order slightly more than your exact calculated area.
Below, we explain why extra material is necessary, how much to allow, and what can go wrong if you don’t plan ahead.
1. Cutting and Shaping Around Obstacles
Most rooms aren’t perfect rectangles. You’ll often need to cut tiles or boards to fit:
- Around corners or pillars
- Around toilets, sinks, or fitted furniture
- Along walls that may be slightly uneven or out of square
These cuts lead to off-cuts or pieces that can’t be reused. Without a buffer, you may run short during installation.
2. Breakage During Handling and Installation
Even with professional fitters, some breakage is inevitable:
- During delivery or unpacking
- While cutting to size
- Due to accidental drops on site
Ordering a bit extra helps prevent costly delays or the need to reorder mid-project.
3. Colour and Batch Consistency
Tiles and flooring materials are often produced in batches. If you run out and need to order more, the new batch might differ slightly in:
- Colour tone
- Texture
- Finish
By ordering enough from the beginning, including an allowance for wastage, you ensure visual consistency across the entire area.
4. Pattern Matching and Layout Considerations
Certain tiles, such as wood-effect, patterned, or large-format tiles, may need to be:
- Rotated or aligned to suit the layout
- Discarded if the grain or pattern doesn’t match
This often results in more waste than expected. Without extra stock, you may need to compromise on the finish or layout.
5. Future Repairs and Replacements
Having a few spare tiles or boards is useful for:
- Replacing damaged or cracked pieces in the future
- Ensuring they match the original batch exactly
This is particularly important in kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor spaces where long-term durability matters.
How Much Extra Should I Order?
As a general rule of thumb:
- Standard installations: Add 10%
- Intricate patterns or small tile formats: Add 12–15%
- Diagonal, herringbone, or staggered layouts: Add 15–20%
Our site includes a wastage calculator on many products, or you can add extra manually at checkout.
