200 sq ft of 12×12 tile needs 4 bags of Store-brand thinset with a 1/4 × 3/8 square-notch.
| Trowel | Sq ft / bag | Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 3/16 × 5/32 V-notch | 110 | 2 |
| 1/4 × 1/4 square-notch | 75 | 3 |
| 1/4 × 3/8 square-notch | 55 | 4 |
| 1/2 × 1/2 square-notch | 35 | 7 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 45° | 25 | 9 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 30° | 25 | 9 |
| Mortar | Sq ft each | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-brand thinset (50 lb) | 55 | 4 | $55.96 |
| VersaBond (50 lb) | 60 | 4 | $79.96 |
| VersaBond LHT (50 lb) | 60 | 4 | — |
| VersaBond LITE (35 lb) | 63 | 4 | — |
| ProLite (30 lb) | 63 | 4 | $148 |
| MegaLite (30 lb) | 63 | 4 | — |
| SimpleSet pre-mix (1 gal) | 14 | 16 | — |
| Ultraflex 2 (50 lb) | 55 | 4 | $119 |
| Ultraflex LFT (50 lb) | 65 | 4 | $120 |
| Ultraflex LHT SG (50 lb) | 55 | 4 | $99.96 |
| Keraflex Super (44 lb) | 74 | 3 | $111 |
| 253 Gold (50 lb) | 60 | 4 | $98.24 |
| 254 Platinum (50 lb) | 60 | 4 | $206 |
| MultiMax Lite (25 lb) | 60 | 4 | $196 |
| TEC 3N1 (30 lb) | 55 | 4 | — |
* not published for this trowel — estimated. Lightweight 25–35 lb bags cover what a 50-lb bag does.
Floor & Decor and Do it Best prices checked October 2026.
| Trowel | Store brand | VersaBond | Ultraflex LFT | ProLite (30 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16 × 5/32 V-notch | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1/4 × 1/4 square-notch | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1/4 × 3/8 square-notch | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 1/2 × 1/2 square-notch | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 45° | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 3/4 × 9/16 × 3/8 U-notch held at 30° | 9 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
12×12 tile sets well with a 1/4 × 3/8 in square notch. On a floor that is out of flat, a deeper notch uses more mortar but saves hollow spots.
Back-buttering is not included here. Coverage charts leave it out, so large-format jobs that skip it on paper run short in practice.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main thinset calculator page.