The amount of grout needed for a tile depends on the size of the tile. For example, 6.4m per kg can be achieved for 200 x 200 x 6 mm tiles with joint widths of 2mm. It would help if you used enough so that it fills all the spaces between the tile and surrounding areas, such as flooring or walls. The smaller your tiles, the less surface area they have, which means you’ll need less grout per square meter (sq m) of tile surface area.
Find out the ways you can find out how much grout you need for your tiles, to perfect your installation without visible errors.
1. Use a Grout calculator
This is the easiest way to find out how much grout you need. There are several different grout calculators available on the internet. Enter the dimensions of your tiles and calculate how many you need. This will give you a reasonable idea of how much grout you require, but it is still best to check this calculation with another method. The grout calculator method is handy if you are using a type of tile that needs to be laid in a specific way, and you need to figure out how many tiles you need. It can also be used to determine the amount of grout required for particular types of tile.
2. Use the old rule of thumb method
This was traditionally used by plasterers but can still be used today. It is based on the assumption that
the grout needed is equal to the weight of the tile itself. For example, if you are using a 12kg tile, you need twice the grout you would use for a 6kg tile. There are more accurate ways to work out how much grout you need, but it can give you a rough idea, and it would be beneficial if your tiles were only small and light.
3. Calculate the amount of grout required by weight
One way to use this method is to weigh a tile before and after it has been prepared. You will need the weight of both tiles together at the start, using their full combined length and width. Then weigh each individually and work out the difference between the initial weight and at the end. Multiply this by the number of tiles you have to give you the total weight of your grout.
4. Measure the area to be tiled by length, width, and depth
Another way is to measure how much area will be tiled by measuring length, width, and depth (or thickness if it is a wall). Then multiply all of these measurements together. This will give you a reasonably accurate estimation of the required grout. The method is beneficial if you are working on a relatively large-scale project, such as a swimming pool or a floor of tiles.
5. Measure the grout required for one tile
This is useful if you want to know how much grout is needed for a tile. Get a card with the exact dimensions and mass of your tile. Place the card in a bucket, fill it with water, and let it sit until completely submerged. Weigh each bucket before and after, then subtract the weight of the bucket itself. The final number will give you the grout you need for your chosen tile.
6. Measure the area and length of grout balls
Grout balls ensure that you get the right amount of grout in your tiles. Measuring the grout required for one tile is easiest before it is placed into a tiled surface. Using another tile of the same size, you can plug your measurement into a formula and determine how much balance is needed for a particular tile. Once you have done this for all the tiles, you can use the same formula to determine how much balance is required for the whole tiling job.
Conclusion
Various methods can be used to work out how much grout you need. Each of them will give you a rough idea, but it is best to compare different ways when trying to determine how much grout is required for your application.