How to Calculate How Many Boxes of Burmatex Go To Carpet Tiles You Need

Getting your quantity calculation right before ordering commercial carpet tiles saves you from the two equally frustrating outcomes: running short mid-installation, or paying to return boxes you didn't need. Here's the straightforward method.

The Basic Calculation

Burmatex Go To tiles are 500mm × 500mm (0.25m² each). Each box contains enough tiles to cover 5m².

1. Measure your room length and width in metres
2. Multiply to get your area in m²
3. Add your waste allowance (see below)
4. Divide by 5 to get the number of boxes
5. Round up to the nearest whole box

Waste Allowance: Don't Skip This

The waste you add depends on how the tiles are being laid:

• Straight lay (grid pattern): Add 5–7%
• Quarter-turn or ashlar lay: Add 7–10%
• Diagonal lay: Add 12–15%
• Irregular shaped rooms: Add 10–12%

For a standard straight-laid office, 10% waste allowance is the safe commercial standard — it accounts for cut tiles at edges, any damaged tiles in transit, and a small stock of spares for future repairs.

Worked Example

Office measuring 15m × 12m = 180m²
Add 10% waste: 180 × 1.10 = 198m²
Divide by 5 (m² per box): 198 ÷ 5 = 39.6 boxes
Round up: 40 boxes

Multi-Zone Projects

If you're using different colours in different areas, calculate each zone separately then add your waste allowance to each zone independently. Don't mix the zones together in one calculation — you'll end up with the wrong colour split.

Why Order a Spare Box?

Commercial carpet tiles are batch-dyed. If you need an extra box six months after your original order, the dye lot may be different enough to be noticeable. Ordering one spare box and keeping it in a dry store costs relatively little and buys you peace of mind for future repairs.

Browse and order Burmatex Go To at Fenston Carter →