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How Much Grout Do I Need for My Tile Project?

Quick Reference

At a glance

Grout pounds needed for 100 ft² of tile
Tile size⅛" joint³⁄₁₆" joint¼" joint
Mosaic 1×140 lbs60 lbs80 lbs
2×2 mosaic20 lbs30 lbs40 lbs
3×6 subway12 lbs18 lbs24 lbs
4×414 lbs21 lbs28 lbs
6×610 lbs15 lbs20 lbs
12×127 lbs10 lbs14 lbs
18×185 lbs7 lbs10 lbs
24×244 lbs6 lbs8 lbs

How to calculate it yourself

Grout volume (in³) ≈ (linear feet of joint × joint width × tile thickness × 12). Linear feet of joint per ft²: 24 ÷ tile width + 24 ÷ tile length. Most retail bags list "covers X ft² of [tile size] at [joint width]" — read the label to confirm. A 10-lb bag of standard sanded grout covers roughly 50-100 ft² of 12×12 with ⅛" joints.

Common scenarios

Bathroom floor (40 ft², 12×12 tile, ⅛" joint)

40 ft² × 0.07 lbs/ft² = 2.8 lbs. Buy one 10-lb bag minimum (smallest standard size). Leftover is fine — tightly seal the bag and it lasts 1-2 years dry.

Kitchen backsplash (22 ft², 3×6 subway, 1/16" joint)

Tighter joints need less grout. About 22 ft² × 0.06 lbs/ft² = 1.3 lbs. A 10-lb bag is overkill — many subway-tile projects use a smaller pre-mixed grout tub (3.5-5 lbs) instead.

Mosaic shower floor (16 ft², 2×2, ⅛" joint)

Mosaics use 3× more grout than 12×12 because of the joint density. 16 × 0.20 lbs/ft² = 3.2 lbs. Buy one 10-lb bag and have plenty for the wall mosaic in the same shower.

Related questions

Frequently asked

  • Sanded for joints ⅛" or wider — the sand keeps the grout from shrinking and cracking. Unsanded for joints under ⅛" (typical for wall tile, polished marble, or glass mosaic). Sanded scratches polished or soft stone — never use it on marble unless the manufacturer says OK.

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