Tile planning for contractors
From client proposals to on-site installation guides
Why planning tools matter for professionals
A homeowner might tile one room every decade. A professional tiler does it weekly. The difference isn't just skill — it's the ability to plan efficiently, quote accurately, order precisely, and communicate clearly with clients and other trades. A tile layout planner turns hours of manual calculation into minutes of precise, visual planning.
Client proposals and sign-off
Before starting work, the client needs to see and approve the layout. A printed PDF showing the exact tile pattern, grid position, cut map, and corner details eliminates misunderstandings. "I didn't want the cut on that wall" is a conversation you never want to have after the tiles are bonded.
The Tile Cut Plan generates a single-page PDF with layout preview, cut tile map, corner details, and a material summary — ready to attach to your quote or send for approval.
Accurate material ordering
Over-ordering wastes the client's money and your storage space. Under-ordering causes delays and batch-matching problems. A proper layout plan gives you the exact tile count including pattern-specific waste, plus a clear breakdown of full tiles, cut tiles, and thin strips.
For complex rooms (L-shapes, multiple rooms with continuous grids), the cut analysis identifies exactly how many unique cut sizes exist — helping you plan the cutting sequence and identify offcuts that can be reused.
Optimising the cutting schedule
The cut summary table groups cut tiles by size. If a room needs 17 cuts at 23.5 cm and 12 cuts at 6.8 cm, you can batch-cut all the 23.5 cm pieces at once, then all the 6.8 cm pieces. This is significantly faster than measuring and cutting each tile individually on site.
The "No thin cuts" option automatically finds the grid position that avoids strips thinner than one-third of a tile — eliminating the fragile pieces that are hardest to cut cleanly and most likely to crack during installation.
Comparing layout options
Clients often want to see multiple options — different patterns, different tile sizes, different starting positions. Save each option as a snapshot and generate a multi-option PDF showing the trade-offs: pattern A uses 86 tiles with 3% waste, pattern B uses 92 tiles with 8% waste but looks better because cuts are symmetrical.
This consultative approach positions you as a professional who plans before executing — justifying higher rates and building trust.
On-site reference
Print the layout plan and keep it on site. The corner detail panels show the exact cut dimensions at each corner — no measuring needed, just cut to the specified size. The cut map shows which tiles are full and which need cutting, reducing errors and waste.
Multi-room projects
For whole-house tiling projects, plan each room separately but coordinate the tile grid across shared thresholds. The same tile and grout gap settings applied to connected rooms ensure continuous grout lines at doorways — a hallmark of professional installation.
Workflow summary
- Measure — record all room dimensions on site
- Plan — enter dimensions, select tile and pattern, optimise grid position
- Propose — generate PDF, attach to quote, get client sign-off
- Order — use the exact tile count from the planner
- Cut — follow the cut summary for batch cutting
- Install — reference the layout plan and corner details on site
Generate professional tile layout plans
Open Tile Cut Plan →