Flooring Calculator
Estimate flooring by area and by the box for any room. Enter the room dimensions and your box coverage to get square footage, the amount needed with waste, and how many boxes to buy. Works for laminate, hardwood, vinyl plank, and tile.
Room Floor Layout
How the Formula Works
Calculate room area
Area (ft²) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) For irregular rooms, break into rectangles and sum the areas
Apply waste factor
Area with waste = Area × (1 + Waste % ÷ 100) 10% for straight lay, 15% for diagonal, 15–20% for herringbone or brick pattern
Calculate boxes to order
Boxes = ⌈Area with waste ÷ Box coverage⌉ Always round up — you cannot buy a partial box
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply room length by room width to get square footage. Add a waste percentage (10% for straight lay, 15% for diagonal). Then divide by the coverage per box and round up. For a 12 × 10 ft room: 120 ft² × 1.10 = 132 ft² ÷ 20 ft² per box = 7 boxes. The calculator above handles all of this — just enter your dimensions.
The recommended waste allowance depends on the installation pattern: straight lay (parallel to walls) 10%, diagonal (45°) 15%, herringbone or chevron 15–20%, rooms with many angles or alcoves add 5% extra. Always buy at least 10% extra — flooring is sold in boxes and you cannot return partial boxes at most stores. Keeping a few extra planks also lets you repair damage years later from the same dye lot.
A 12 × 12 ft room is 144 sq ft. With 10% waste: 144 × 1.10 = 158.4 sq ft to order. At 20 sq ft per box, that's ⌈158.4 ÷ 20⌉ = 8 boxes. At 22 sq ft per box (common for laminate), that's 8 boxes. Check the exact coverage on your chosen product — it varies by manufacturer and plank size.
Laminate flooring is calculated the same as any flooring: Length × Width × waste factor ÷ box coverage. Most laminate boxes cover 16–22 sq ft. Use 10% waste for a straight lay; 15% if cutting at an angle. Check the box label for exact coverage — the calculator above uses your entered box coverage so the result is accurate for your specific product.
Measure each room length × width and sum all rooms you are flooring. Add 15% waste for solid hardwood (more offcuts due to longer acclimation cuts) or 10% for engineered hardwood with a straight lay. Hardwood boxes typically cover 18–24 sq ft. Enter your room dimensions and your product's box coverage in the calculator above for an accurate estimate.
Vinyl plank (LVP/LVT) is calculated exactly like laminate: room area + waste ÷ box coverage. Most LVP boxes cover 18–23 sq ft. Use 10% waste for a straight lay; 15% for diagonal. Vinyl plank is forgiving to cut so waste is slightly lower than hardwood, but always buy extra for future repairs — colour matching years later is difficult.
Box coverage is printed on every flooring box label — look for "sq ft per carton" or "coverage." Typical ranges: laminate 16–22 ft² per box, engineered hardwood 18–24 ft², luxury vinyl plank 18–23 ft², solid hardwood 20–25 ft², ceramic/porcelain tile varies widely. Enter the exact number from your product in the calculator above — using the right coverage avoids over- or under-ordering.
Measure the longest length and widest width of the room in feet and inches. For L-shaped or irregular rooms, split the area into rectangles, calculate each separately, and add the totals. Include closets and areas under appliances that will not be removed — it's easier to cut around them than to come up short. Do not subtract small obstacles like doorways or floor vents.