Frequently asked questions
Questions about the tool itself and about planning a layout. If something is missing, write to us and we will add it.
Is HandyLay free?
Yes. The planner is free in full - no trial, no paid features. It is funded by advertising.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no registration and no sign-in. Open the planner and start drawing.
Where are my projects stored?
In your browser's local storage, on your own device. They never reach a server, but they disappear if you clear your browsing data. Export anything you want to keep to a file.
Can I save a project and come back to it later?
Yes. A project can be downloaded as a JSON file and loaded back, including on another device. That is the only way to move your work between browsers.
Will the planner tell me how many tiles to buy?
Yes. Open the dimensions card and choose More: the plan reports how many tiles the layout needs, how many go down whole, how many have to be cut, the total area of material and what share of it ends up as offcut. Add your own allowance for breakage and future repairs on top - that figure covers the layout, not accidents.
How do I find the size of a tile cut at the wall?
Switch to pattern editing and click the tile. Its cut shape is drawn to scale with every side dimensioned, and the leftover piece beside it. The arrow keys nudge the layout a millimetre at a time and the dimensions follow, so you can tune an edge cut and read the result as you go.
Does the waste figure assume I reuse the offcuts?
No. Every piece cut off is counted as waste, which is the cautious reading. In practice a long offcut often starts the opposite wall and the real figure comes out lower. The planner gives you each offcut's dimensions so you can judge that yourself; it does not pair them up for you.
How much material allowance should I add?
It depends on the layout. A straight grid wastes least; diagonal and herringbone waste noticeably more, because nearly every tile at the wall has to be cut. Add the allowance on top of a real measurement, never instead of one. The planner now reports the waste for your actual layout, which is a better starting point than a rule of thumb.
Where should I start so I do not end up with a sliver at the wall?
Not in a corner. Move the starting point so the remainder is split between both sides of the room - two wider cuts read as planned, one narrow strip reads as a mistake.
Does the joint count towards the tile size?
Yes, and forgetting it is a common mistake. The repeating module is tile plus joint. A 60 cm tile with a 3 mm joint is 60.3 cm - across five rows that is already a centimetre and a half.
Does a herringbone layout waste more material?
Usually yes. Tiles meet the walls at an angle, so almost every edge needs cutting and the offcuts rarely fit anywhere else. That is exactly why herringbone is worth planning before buying, not after.
Can I upload a photo of the tile I intend to buy?
Yes. JPEG, PNG and WebP are supported. The image is resized to 512×512 pixels and stored with the project inside your browser - it is never uploaded anywhere.
Does the planner work on a phone?
Yes, it is touch-aware: drawing, panning and zooming all work with gestures. A larger screen is easier for complicated shapes, but a room can be planned on a phone.
Can I print the plan?
Yes, the planner can print. A printout is handy on site, where a sheet of paper beats a phone in work gloves.
What units does the planner use?
Metres and millimetres, and inches as well. You change the unit in the planner settings.