How Much Extra Zellige Tile Should I Order? (Overage Guide)
How Much Extra Zellige Tile Should I Order? (Overage Guide)
You've picked your colorway. You've measured your wall. Now comes the question nobody talks about enough: how much extra should you order?
With zellige, this matters more than with standard tile. Here's why — and exactly how to calculate it.
Why Zellige Needs More Overage Than Regular Tile
Standard ceramic or porcelain tile is machine-cut. Every piece is identical. Waste is predictable.
Zellige is different.
Each tile is hand-cut and hand-glazed in Fes, Morocco. That means slight variation in size, shape, and thickness — piece to piece. Installers have to sort, select, and sometimes cut around irregularities. More waste is just part of the process.
On top of that, zellige is harder to replace mid-project. It's not sitting on a shelf at your local tile store. If you run short, you're waiting on an international shipment — and no two batches are exactly the same color.
Order enough the first time.
The Standard Rule: 15–20% Overage
For most zellige projects, order 15% extra as a baseline.
Go to 20% if:
- You're tiling a diagonal or herringbone pattern
- The space has a lot of cuts (around outlets, windows, niched shelves)
- You're working with a contractor who hasn't installed zellige before
- The space is large (over 100 sq ft)
Stick with 15% if:
- It's a simple straight-set pattern
- The space is small and mostly uninterrupted (a backsplash between two cabinets)
- Your installer has zellige experience
How to Calculate It
- Measure your space in square feet (length × width, or add up sections)
- Multiply by 1.15 for 15% overage, or 1.20 for 20%
- That's your order quantity
Example:
Kitchen backsplash = 32 sq ft
32 × 1.15 = 36.8 sq ft → round up to 37 sq ft
Simple.
What About Keeping Extras?
Always keep a box after install. Tile can chip, crack, or need replacement years later — especially in high-traffic areas like floors or shower walls.
With zellige, having a few matching tiles in storage is the difference between a quick repair and a full retile.
Don't Forget to Account for Grout Joints
Zellige is typically set with wider grout joints than porcelain (usually ¼" to ⅜") to accommodate the natural variation in size. This affects your layout and can add a few extra cuts.
Your tile setter will account for this — just make sure they know what they're working with before they start.
Bottom Line
Order 15% extra minimum. 20% if the layout is complex or your installer is new to handmade tile.
Zellige is worth doing right. Don't let a short order be the thing that slows you down.