What kind of tile can you use outdoors?

Use tile rated for outdoor use: dense, frost-resistant porcelain with very low water absorption and a slip-resistant (textured or R-rated) surface. Avoid soft ceramic, polished tile, and most indoor-only tile — they can crack in freeze-thaw cycles or become dangerously slippery when wet.

How much waste should I add for a patio?

Add 10% for a straight layout on a simple rectangular patio, and 15% for a diagonal layout, a patio with curves or angles, or large-format outdoor pavers where a broken piece wastes a lot of tile. Buy it all in one dye lot and keep spares for future repairs.

Do outdoor tiles need bigger grout lines?

Often, yes. Outdoor pavers and textured tile usually use wider grout joints (3/16 to 1/4 inch) to absorb size variation and movement, and they need a grout and setting system rated for exterior use and freeze-thaw. Check the tile manufacturer's recommendation before you plan the joint.

Can you lay patio tile over an existing concrete slab?

Yes, if the slab is sound, clean, and reasonably flat, you can tile over it with an exterior thinset and, ideally, an uncoupling or waterproofing membrane to manage cracks and moisture. A cracked or heaving slab should be repaired first, or the movement will telegraph through the tile.

How to Calculate Tile for a Patio or Outdoor Floor

Quick answer: Measure the patio length × width in feet for square footage, split any L-shape into rectangles and add them, then multiply by the tiles per square foot for your size and add 10–15% waste. A 12 × 16 ft patio is 192 sq ft — about 53 pieces of 24x24 in paver with waste.

A patio is calculated like any floor, with two extra things to get right: the shape (patios are often L-shaped or stepped) and the tile itself (it must survive weather and stay slip-safe). This guide covers both, with a worked example. For an instant count, enter your measurements in the tile calculator.

Step 1: Measure the area

Measure the length and width in feet and multiply. If the patio is an L-shape or has a step, split it into rectangles, calculate each, and add them together — the same method as an indoor floor. For odd shapes and unit conversion, see how to calculate tile square footage.

Step 2: Tiles per square foot (outdoor sizes)

Outdoor tile is often larger than indoor tile — big-format pavers mean fewer joints and a cleaner look. Here’s how many of each common size fit in a square foot:

Paver / tile size	Tiles per sq ft
12 x 12 in	1
16 x 16 in	0.56
18 x 18 in	0.44
24 x 24 in	0.25
12 x 24 in	0.5

For the full list of sizes, see our tiles-per-square-foot chart.

Step 3: Add waste

Add 10% for a straight layout on a simple rectangle, and 15% for a diagonal pattern, a curved or angled patio, or large pavers where each broken piece costs a lot. More on choosing the right percentage in how much extra tile to buy.

Worked example: a 12 × 16 ft patio

The patio: 12 ft × 16 ft, straight layout, 24x24 in frost-rated porcelain pavers (0.25 per sq ft).

Area: 12 × 16 = 192 sq ft
Pavers before waste: 192 × 0.25 = 48
Add 10% waste: 48 × 1.10 = 52.8 → 53 pavers

Choose tile that survives outdoors

The biggest mistake outdoors is using indoor tile. Outdoor tile must handle rain, sun, and — in much of the US — freeze-thaw cycles:

Frost-resistant porcelain with very low water absorption, so trapped water can’t freeze and crack it.
Slip-resistant surface — a textured or high slip-rating (R11+) finish, never polished.
Exterior-rated thinset and grout built for temperature swings and moisture.

This is a big reason outdoor projects lean porcelain over stone and ceramic — see natural stone vs. porcelain and porcelain vs. ceramic.

Mind the base and the joints

Outdoors you can tile over a sound, flat concrete slab with exterior thinset and ideally a membrane to manage cracks — see what you can tile over. Outdoor tile also tends to use wider grout joints (3/16–1/4 in) to absorb movement; the grout line size guide explains why.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much tile I need for a patio?: Measure the patio length × width in feet to get square footage, split any L-shape into rectangles and add them, then multiply by the tiles per square foot for your size and add 10–15% waste. Our tile calculator does this for you and accounts for larger outdoor pavers.
What kind of tile can you use outdoors?: Use tile rated for outdoor use: dense, frost-resistant porcelain with very low water absorption and a slip-resistant (textured or R-rated) surface. Avoid soft ceramic, polished tile, and most indoor-only tile — they can crack in freeze-thaw cycles or become dangerously slippery when wet.
How much waste should I add for a patio?: Add 10% for a straight layout on a simple rectangular patio, and 15% for a diagonal layout, a patio with curves or angles, or large-format outdoor pavers where a broken piece wastes a lot of tile. Buy it all in one dye lot and keep spares for future repairs.
Do outdoor tiles need bigger grout lines?: Often, yes. Outdoor pavers and textured tile usually use wider grout joints (3/16 to 1/4 inch) to absorb size variation and movement, and they need a grout and setting system rated for exterior use and freeze-thaw. Check the tile manufacturer's recommendation before you plan the joint.
Can you lay patio tile over an existing concrete slab?: Yes, if the slab is sound, clean, and reasonably flat, you can tile over it with an exterior thinset and, ideally, an uncoupling or waterproofing membrane to manage cracks and moisture. A cracked or heaving slab should be repaired first, or the movement will telegraph through the tile.

Measure your patio and get an exact paver count with the free tile calculator — set your tile size and it adds the right waste for an outdoor layout.