--- title: "How much tile adhesive and grout do I need? | BuildBatch" description: "Bags are the area to tile over what one bag covers, rounded up. At example figures of 4 and 6 m², 17.73 m² of wall takes 5 bags of adhesive and 3 of grout." url: https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-much-tile-adhesive-and-grout-do-i-need/ --- [Guides](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/) # How much tile adhesive and grout do I need? 5 min read · Updated 2 October 2026 ![A paint tin and a pack of flooring, each with a label tag.](https://buildbatch.co.uk/app/img/step-choose.svg) The bags are the area to tile divided by the m² one bag covers, from the bag’s label, rounded up to a whole bag: BuildBatch has no coverage figure of its own and counts from the one you type in. At example figures of 4 m² a bag of adhesive and 6 m² a bag of grout, 17.73 m² of wall takes 5 bags of adhesive and 3 of grout, and a 15.12 m² floor takes 4 and 3. ## The sum Bags = the area to tile ÷ the m² one bag covers, rounded up to a whole bag. The area is the wall or floor to be tiled. For a wall it is the distance round the room times the height the tiles go up to, less the doors up to that height, and less the windows only when the tiles go to the ceiling: see [how many tiles do I need?](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-many-tiles-do-i-need/) BuildBatch divides that area as it stands, without the 10% for cuts that it adds to the tiles, and rounds once, at the end. ## Two bags, two figures - **Adhesive.** The bag says how many m² it covers for your tile size and trowel. - **Grout.** The bag says how many m² it covers for your tile size and joint width. Both depend on your tile and on the trowel or joint you use, so BuildBatch does not guess either. If a label gives several figures, take the one for your tile size and your trowel or joint width. If it gives a range, use the lower figure. If it gives the weight used for each m² instead, divide the weight of the bag by it to get the m² a bag covers, and enter that. ## A wall A room 4.2 m × 3.6 m and 2.4 m high, with one door 826 × 1981 mm and one window 1200 × 1100 mm: the room in [how many tiles do I need?](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-many-tiles-do-i-need/) The bag figures are examples typed in for this guide, 4 m² for adhesive and 6 m² for grout. They are not the figures of any product. | Tiled | Area to tile | Adhesive, ÷ 4 | Bags | Grout, ÷ 6 | Bags | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | To 1.2 m | 17.73 m² | 17.73 ÷ 4 = 4.43 | 5 | 17.73 ÷ 6 = 2.95 | 3 | | To the ceiling | 34.48 m² | 34.48 ÷ 4 = 8.62 | 9 | 34.48 ÷ 6 = 5.75 | 6 | The door comes off both areas. The window comes off only when the tiles go to the ceiling, because below that BuildBatch does not know where its sill is. The tiles for the same two walls, at another example figure of 1.44 m² a box with 10% extra, are 14 boxes and 27 boxes. ## A floor The same room’s floor is 15.12 m². Adhesive: 15.12 ÷ 4 = 3.78, so 4 bags. Grout: 15.12 ÷ 6 = 2.52, so 3 bags. The floor tiles are 12 boxes of 1.44 m². On a timber floor the count does not change, but the adhesive line starts “A flexible adhesive, because a timber floor moves”. ## What the label’s figure does The same three areas at other example figures: | Area to cover | Adhesive at 3 m² | at 4 m² | at 5 m² | Grout at 4 m² | at 6 m² | at 8 m² | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Wall to 1.2 m, 17.73 m² | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | | Wall to the ceiling, 34.48 m² | 12 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | | Floor, 15.12 m² | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Each cell is a whole number of bags. None of the six figures belongs to a product. A small change in what a bag covers can move the count by a bag, which is why the figure comes from your own bag. ## Do it with BuildBatch Open the [tile calculator](https://buildbatch.co.uk/tile-calculator/), type the room, add the doors and windows, and say how high the tiles go. Then type what one bag covers in “Adhesive: one bag covers” and “Grout: one bag covers”. Both are optional. Without them the two lines are marked Check first and show the area to cover; with them they become Need, with the bags and the working. For a floor, choose Flooring, then Tiles in the [room refresh planner](https://buildbatch.co.uk/room-refresh/?work=flooring): the same two fields are there. The rest of the list for a tiled wall is in [what you need to tile a wall](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/what-you-need-to-tile-a-wall/), and the tiles themselves are counted in [how many tiles in a square metre?](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-many-tiles-in-a-square-metre/) ## What this guide does not cover Which adhesive or grout suits your tile and your wall or floor. How to mix and spread them, which the bag’s instructions give. Priming, waterproofing and what goes under the tiles. Sanitary silicone, which is a separate line in the list. Mosaic sheets. ## Related guides - [How many tiles do I need for a floor or a wall?](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-many-tiles-do-i-need/) - [Floor tile box coverage: three sizes worked out](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/floor-tile-box-coverage-worked-out/) - [Wastage allowance explained](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/wastage-allowance-explained/) ## Questions **How many bags of tile adhesive do I need?** The area to tile divided by the m² one bag covers, from the bag, rounded up. At an example 4 m² a bag, 17.73 m² of wall is 17.73 ÷ 4 = 4.43, so 5 bags, and a 15.12 m² floor is 3.78, so 4. The 4 is an example, not the figure of any product: use the one on your bag. **How many bags of tile grout do I need?** The same sum with the grout bag's own figure. At an example 6 m² a bag, 17.73 m² of wall is 2.95, so 3 bags, and a 15.12 m² floor is 2.52, so 3. The bag gives its coverage for your tile size and joint width. **Does BuildBatch know how far a bag of adhesive goes?** No. How far a bag goes depends on your tile size and trowel, and BuildBatch has no coverage figure of its own. Enter what one bag covers, from the bag, and it counts the bags. Left blank, the line is marked Check first and shows the area to cover. **Do I add 10% for cuts to the adhesive and grout?** BuildBatch does not. It divides the area to tile, without the allowance for cuts, by what one bag covers. The 10% extra, a labelled example, is added to the tiles only: see [how many tiles do I need?](https://buildbatch.co.uk/guides/how-many-tiles-do-i-need/) **Want the sum done for you?** It works from your own measurements and product figures, and shows its working. [Work out the tiles for a room](https://buildbatch.co.uk/tile-calculator/) [All calculators](https://buildbatch.co.uk/calculators/) · [Example lists and tables by room size](https://buildbatch.co.uk/examples/)