Enter the room size, the layout and the coverage on the carton. The calculator adds a waste allowance for cuts and gives the number of boxes of laminate, luxury vinyl plank, engineered or solid hardwood to buy.
How to use the flooring calculator
- Measure the room. Split an L-shaped room into rectangles and add the boxes together, or use the square footage calculator for the total area.
- Pick the layout. Straight lay parallel to the walls needs the least waste; diagonal and herringbone patterns waste more at the edges.
- Enter the square feet per box from the carton.
Flooring formula
Area = length × width Flooring to buy = area × (1 + waste %) Boxes = flooring to buy ÷ coverage per box, rounded up
Worked example: a 15 × 12 ft living room
- Area: 15 × 12 = 180 sq ft.
- Straight lay with 10% waste: 180 × 1.10 = 198 sq ft.
- Boxes of 20 sq ft: 198 ÷ 20 = 9.9, so buy 10 boxes.
Boxes by room size (20 sq ft boxes, 10% waste)
| Room | Area | With waste | Boxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 110 sq ft | 6 |
| 12 × 10 ft | 120 sq ft | 132 sq ft | 7 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 158.4 sq ft | 8 |
| 15 × 12 ft | 180 sq ft | 198 sq ft | 10 |
| 16 × 14 ft | 224 sq ft | 246.4 sq ft | 13 |
| 20 × 15 ft | 300 sq ft | 330 sq ft | 17 |
How much waste to allow
The 10% and 15% defaults are common rules of thumb, not a manufacturer rule. Many flooring makers state their own allowance in the installation guide; use that figure if they give one. Allow more for rooms with lots of corners, closets and doorways, for long planks that leave big offcuts, and if you want spare boards for future repairs.
Questions
How many boxes of flooring for 500 sq ft?
With 10% waste and 20 sq ft boxes, 28 boxes. Change the box coverage to match your product.
Do I subtract cabinets and islands?
Floating floors are usually not installed under fixed cabinets, so you can subtract their footprint. Leave it in if you are not sure.
Is this the same for laminate and vinyl plank?
Yes. Both are sold by the box with the coverage printed on it.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Square foot and square metre conversions.