How much tile adhesive do I need per square metre?

I’m about to start tiling and trying to work out how many bags of adhesive to buy, but the coverage figures seem to vary and I don’t want to be halfway through and run out.

Asked by Michael on 21st Feb 2026
Expert Trade Answers
"Average bag will cover 4.5 sqm it does depend on how good the sub floor is though 😊"
Answered on 21st Feb 2026 - Member since Nov 2023 - report
"Depends on how what trowel you use. Should be about 4sqm for a 12mm trowel as long as the floor is flat"
Answered on 21st Feb 2026 - Member since Jan 2026 - report
"Adhesive coverage depends on tile size, trowel size and how flat the surface is.
As a rough guide:
• Small tiles (mosaics, 100x100mm, metro tiles) using a 6–8mm trowel: approx. 3–4kg per m²
• Standard floor tiles using a 10–12mm trowel: approx. 5–7kg per m²
For large format porcelain tiles, best practice is to use a 12mm notched trowel and back-butter the tile to achieve full coverage and avoid hollow spots. In this case, expect around 7–8kg per m² depending on the surface.
A 20kg bag will typically cover: • 5–6m² for small tiles
• 3–4m² for larger floor tiles with full-bed coverage
If the floor or wall isn’t perfectly level, usage will increase.
My advice: work out your total m² and add 10% extra so you don’t run short halfway through.
If you share the tile size and whether it’s wall or floor, I can give you a more accurate estimate. 👌"
Answered on 21st Feb 2026 - Member since Feb 2019 - report
Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!
It's FREE and there are no obligations
Ask a Trade
Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.
Ask your question
Ask a Trade

Are you looking for advice on a DIY project or have a question for our tradespeople?

We'll email your question to tradespeople who are skilled in your chosen category.

Your question will be made public - please do not include any personal details.

{{ first(ask.errors)[0] }}

By continuing you agree to the Community Guidelines.

Report Content

{{ first(reportForm.errors) }}

Thank you

Your report has been created and will be investigated shortly.

Ready to get a price for your home improvement project?
Get started

Over 1 million homeowners and over 50,000 tradespeople
use MyJobQuote nationwide each year