Flooring Calculator
Calculate the square footage and number of boxes of flooring you need — with a waste allowance built in.
Results are estimates. Always confirm against the coverage printed on the product and buy a little extra for cuts and future repairs.
How to Measure for Flooring
Flooring is calculated from the floor area plus a waste allowance for cuts, mistakes, and pattern matching.
From room dimensions
Measure the room's length and width in feet on the Room (L × W) tab. Measure at the widest points and include closets and doorways that will be floored.
From a known area
If you've already worked out the square footage — or you're combining several rooms — switch to the Total area tab and enter it directly.
Box coverage
Enter the square footage one box covers (it's printed on the carton) to get a box count. Leave it at 0 if you only want the square footage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- No waste allowance. Cuts and offcuts are unavoidable. Use 5-10% for straight layouts and 15-20% for diagonal or herringbone.
- Rounding boxes down. Always round the box count up — running one box short can mean a different dye lot.
- Ignoring closets and transitions. Small spaces add up; include every area that gets the same flooring.
- Not keeping spares. Set aside a few planks or tiles for future repairs — matching later is often impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply room length by width for the area, then add a waste allowance of 5-15%. A 12 ft × 15 ft room is 180 sq ft, so with 10% waste you should buy about 198 sq ft.
Add 5-10% for a simple straight layout and 15-20% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, or rooms with many corners.
Divide the total square footage you need, including waste, by the coverage printed on each box, then round up. Enter the box coverage above to get the count automatically.
Yes. Color can vary slightly between production runs, so buy it all at once and check the boxes share the same lot number.
Measure each room on its own and add the results. Splitting a home into rectangles is more accurate than one big shape.