Flooring Calculator
Floor area for one or more rooms with extra for waste, the boxes of flooring to buy and the total cost.
Your floor
Filled in with example values. Replace them with your own.
Extras
Planks cut at the walls are partly wasted. On by default; check the installation guide for your product.
Enter the area one box covers. It is printed on the box and differs by product.
Results update as you type.
Result
Flooring needed: 158.4 ft² (including 10% extra)
Flooring to buy
158.4square feet
- Floor area2 areas
- 144 ft²
- With extra+10%
- 158.4 ft²
How it’s calculated
Area 1
12 ft × 10 ft = 120 ft²
Area 2
6 ft × 4 ft = 24 ft²
Total floor area
120 ft² + 24 ft² = 144 ft²
Plus 10% extra
144 ft² × 1.1 = 158.4 ft²
How the flooring calculator works
Enter the length and width of each area you want to floor. The calculator works out each area, adds them up and adds a percentage for cuts and waste. Turn on box counting and enter the coverage printed on the box to see how many whole boxes to buy, how much will be left over and, if you add a price, the total cost.
The formula
Floor area = Σ (Length × Width)
Flooring needed = Floor area × (1 + Extra % ÷ 100)
Boxes = Flooring needed ÷ Coverage per box, rounded up
Cost = Boxes × Price per box
Worked example
A living room of 12 × 10 ft and a hallway of 6 × 4 ft, with10% extra:
- Living room: 12 × 10 = 120 ft²
- Hallway: 6 × 4 = 24 ft²
- Floor area: 120 + 24 = 144 ft²
- With 10% extra: 144 × 1.1 = 158.4 ft²
Suppose one box covers 20 ft². This is an example only; use the figure on your box. 158.4 ÷ 20 = 7.92, so you would buy 8 boxes covering 160 ft², with 1.6 ft² to spare. At 45.99 a box, that is 367.92.
Units, assumptions and limitations
- Conversions use exact definitions: 1 foot = 0.3048 m, so 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m².
- Each area is a rectangle. Closets, bay windows and odd angles need to be measured as extra rectangles.
- The estimate is based on area. It does not plan the layout of each plank or row.
- No coverage per box is assumed. Products differ, so enter the coverage from the box you will buy.
- Prices are entered by you; the calculator does not know any product prices.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure an L-shaped room?
Split it into two rectangles that do not overlap, measure each one and enter them as separate areas. The calculator adds them up. The same works for a hallway that joins a room.
How much extra flooring should I buy?
It depends on the product, the room shape and the layout: diagonal or herringbone patterns and rooms with many corners produce more offcuts. Check the installation guide for your flooring and enter its figure. The calculator starts at 10%, which you can change.
Where do I find the coverage per box?
It is printed on the box or the product page, usually in square feet or square metres. Enter it as it is written; the calculator converts units for you.
Does this work for vinyl, laminate and hardwood?
Yes. The calculation is the same for any flooring sold by area: measure the floor, add extra for waste and divide by the coverage of one box or pack. It also works for carpet tiles. For floor tiles with grout joints, the Tile Calculator counts individual tiles.
Does it include underlay, trim or adhesive?
No. Underlay is usually sold by area too, so you can use the floor area shown here, but check the product for overlaps or extra. Trims and adhesive are not included.