Flooring Calculator
Enter the room dimensions, coverage per box, and a waste factor to get the floor area and the number of boxes to order.
Results
- Boxes to order
- 7 boxes
- Floor area
- 120 sq ft
- Area incl. waste
- 132 sq ft
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Flooring is sold by the carton, so this calculator converts room area into square feet with waste and then into the number of boxes to buy.
Buy all boxes at once from the same lot. Colour and gloss vary between production runs, and a mid job top up is usually visible.
Also works as a laminate flooring calculator, hardwood flooring calculator, vinyl plank calculator, and flooring box calculator.
How to use the flooring calculator
- Enter the room length in ft.
- Enter the room width in ft.
- Enter the coverage per box in sq ft.
- Enter the waste factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Room length
- 12 ft
- Room width
- 10 ft
- Coverage per box
- 20 sq ft
- Waste factor
- 10 %
Results
- Boxes to order
- 7 boxes
- Floor area
- 120 sq ft
- Area incl. waste
- 132 sq ft
Using the example values above, the flooring calculator returns 7 boxes (boxes to order). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
How much waste should I add?
Add 5 percent for straight lay in a square room, 10 percent for standard rooms with closets and doorways, and 15 to 20 percent for diagonal or herringbone layouts and irregular floor plans.
Keep at least one full box after the install for future repairs. Replacing a damaged plank years later is nearly impossible to colour match.
Expansion gaps and underlayment
Floating floors need a 1/4 to 1/2 inch expansion gap at every wall and vertical obstruction, hidden by baseboard or quarter round.
Most laminate and vinyl plank needs underlayment unless it is pre attached. On concrete, add a 6 mil vapour barrier underneath.
How much extra should I order?
Always order a little extra. A 5% waste factor suits simple, square projects; 10% is right for most jobs; bump it to 15–20% for irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or uneven ground. Running short almost always costs more than the leftover material.
Formula
Boxes = (area × (1 + waste%)) ÷ coverage per box.
Frequently asked questions
- How much flooring waste should I add?
- Add 10% for straight layouts and 15% for diagonal patterns or busy rooms.
- Should I buy an extra box?
- Yes — keep one spare box for future repairs since dye lots change over time.
- How many boxes of flooring do I need?
- Divide total square feet including waste by the coverage printed on the carton, then round up to the next full box.
- How much extra flooring should I buy?
- 10 percent for a standard straight install, 15 to 20 percent for diagonal or herringbone patterns.
- How do I measure a room for flooring?
- Break the space into rectangles, multiply length by width for each, add them up, then include closets and doorway thresholds.
Related calculators
Tile Calculator
Find how many tiles you need for a floor or wall.
Square Footage Calculator
Calculate the area of a room or surface in square feet, yards, and meters.
Insulation Calculator
Estimate insulation batts or rolls by area.
Paint Calculator
Estimate gallons of paint by wall area, coats, and openings.