Bathroom floor
5 × 8 ft, 12×24 tile, straight lay
- Clips
- 66 (1 pack)
- Wedges
- 66 (1 pack)
- Tiles
- 22
How many leveling clips does your job need?
Enter the room and the tile size for a quick estimate. Open “More options” if you want to account for layout pattern, clip spacing, cut-outs, tile boxes and how much you lay in a day.
How the calculator works
In a tiled floor every tile shares its edges with its neighbours, so each tile “owns” one long edge and one short edge of the joint grid. We put a clip at least every 12 inches along each of those edges, then add an allowance for cuts and edge pieces: 10% for a straight or offset lay, 15% for diagonal and 20% for herringbone. A 12×24 tile therefore takes 3 clips (2 on the long edge, 1 on the short), so a 40 sq ft bathroom floor needs about 66 clips — one pack of 100.
Clips per 100 sq ft, by tile size
Straight lay, a clip at least every 12 inches, 10% extra. Planks and small tile need the most clips per square foot; large-format tile needs fewer per square foot, though many setters space clips closer on very large or thin tile.
| Tile size | Clips per tile | Clips per sq ft | Clips per 100 sq ft | Packs of 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12" × 12" | 2 | 2.0 | 221 | 3 |
| 12" × 24" | 3 | 1.5 | 165 | 2 |
| 24" × 24" | 4 | 1.0 | 111 | 2 |
| 24" × 48" | 6 | 0.8 | 86 | 1 |
| 32" × 32" | 6 | 0.8 | 100 | 1 |
| 48" × 48" | 8 | 0.5 | 62 | 1 |
| 6" × 24" plank | 3 | 3.0 | 330 | 4 |
| 6" × 36" plank | 4 | 2.7 | 295 | 3 |
| 8" × 48" plank | 5 | 1.9 | 210 | 3 |
How far apart to place leveling clips
- At least one clip on every tile edge, and one at least every 12 inches along longer edges.
- Keep clips a couple of inches back from the corners so the wedge has room to seat.
- Large-format (24″ and up) and thin porcelain flex more — many setters clip every 6 to 8 inches. Pick “Close” spacing in More options.
- Planks bow along their length, so clip the long edges well; an offset of a third or less helps keep lippage down.
Which clip size for which grout joint
| Clip | Grout joint | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mm | About 1/16″ | Rectified porcelain, large-format floors and walls with tight joints |
| 2.0 mm | Between 1/16″ and 1/8″ | Modern floors that want a clean line with a little more room than 1/16″ |
| 3.0 mm | About 1/8″ | Standard pressed-edge tile, planks and running-bond layouts |
Always check the tile maker’s recommended joint; some tile needs a wider joint than its size suggests.
Worked examples
Basement floor
20 × 25 ft, 24×24 tile, straight lay
- Clips
- 550 (6 packs)
- Wedges
- 500 (5 packs)
- Tiles
- 138
Shower walls
Three walls (about 88 sq ft), 12×24 tile, offset
- Clips
- 146 (2 packs)
- Wedges
- 146 (2 packs)
- Tiles
- 49
Wood-look plank hallway
4 × 20 ft, 8×48 plank, offset
- Clips
- 165 (2 packs)
- Wedges
- 165 (2 packs)
- Tiles
- 33
How to use tile leveling clips
- Set the tile. Spread thinset, back-butter large tile, and bed the tile as usual.
- Slide in the clips. Push the clip base under the tile edge so it straddles the joint, at the spacing above.
- Add the wedges. Push a wedge through each clip and tighten with leveling pliers until the tiles sit flush — snug, not crushed.
- Let it cure. Leave everything in place until the thinset has set, usually overnight; check the bag.
- Snap off and reuse. Knock the clip tops off along the line of the joint with a rubber mallet, pull the wedges, rinse them and use them again.
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Frequently asked questions
How many tile leveling clips do I need per square foot?
It depends on the tile size. With a clip at least every 12 inches along each joint, 12×12 tile takes about 2 clips per sq ft, 12×24 about 1.5, 24×24 about 1, and 24×48 under 1. Planks need the most: a 6×24 plank takes about 3 per sq ft. Add about 10% for cuts and edges.
How far apart should tile leveling clips be?
Most setters put a clip at least every 12 inches along each joint, with at least one clip on every edge, and keep clips a couple of inches back from the corners. Large-format or thin tile is often clipped closer, every 6 to 8 inches, because it flexes more.
Do I need as many wedges as clips?
No. Clips snap off and stay under the grout, but wedges pull back out and are reused. You only need one wedge for every clip that is in the floor at the same time, which is usually about one day's worth.
Can tile leveling clips be reused?
The clips can't. Their base stays in the thinset and the top snaps off once it has cured. The wedges can be cleaned and reused job after job.
Which clip size do I need for a 1/16 or 1/8 inch grout line?
Use 1.5 mm clips for a 1/16" joint (common with rectified porcelain), 2.0 mm clips for a slightly wider modern joint, and 3.0 mm clips for a 1/8" joint (common with standard pressed-edge tile and planks).
When do you remove tile leveling clips?
After the thinset has cured enough to walk on, usually the next day; follow the cure time on your thinset bag. Snap the clips off by striking them along the line of the joint with a rubber mallet or the side of your foot, never across it, then pull the wedges for reuse.
Do small tiles need leveling clips?
Usually not. Leveling clips pay off on tile with an edge of about 8 inches or more, and especially on large-format tile and planks, where lippage shows most. Mosaics and small subway tile normally only need spacers.
Not sure which clip width?
The three-width trial pack has 200 clips each of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mm, 300 reusable wedges and both spacer sizes.