Flooring Calculator
Square footage and boxes of flooring, with waste included.
10% for straight installs, 15% for diagonals, patterns, or complex rooms.
Printed on the box. Laminate and vinyl plank are commonly 18 to 24 sq ft.
You need
7 boxes
Covers 140.0 sq ft. Keep leftovers for future repairs.
- Floor area
- 120.0 sq ft
- Area including waste
- 132.0 sq ft
Estimates only. Verify quantities before ordering.
How this is calculated
Area = length x width. Total to buy = area x (1 + waste %). Boxes = total / coverage per box, rounded up to a whole box.
Enter the room's dimensions, a waste factor, and the coverage printed on the flooring box, and this calculator tells you the total square footage to buy and how many boxes that is. For L-shaped or multi-room projects, split the space into rectangles, calculate each, and add the areas before dividing by box coverage.
The waste factor covers cut ends, defective planks, and pattern matching. 10% is right for a straight lay in a simple room. Use 15% for diagonal installs, herringbone and other patterns, rooms with many corners and closets, or tile and plank products with strong repeating patterns.
Flooring for common room sizes
Rows assume a straight lay with 10% waste and boxes covering 20 sq ft, the common size for laminate and vinyl plank.
| Room size | Boxes | Sq ft with waste |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 6 boxes | 110.0 sq ft |
| 12 x 10 ft (bedroom) | 7 boxes | 132.0 sq ft |
| 12 x 12 ft | 8 boxes | 158.4 sq ft |
| 15 x 12 ft (living room) | 10 boxes | 198.0 sq ft |
| 20 x 15 ft (great room) | 17 boxes | 330.0 sq ft |
| 12 x 24 ft (open plan) | 16 boxes | 316.8 sq ft |
Common questions
How much extra flooring should I buy?
Add 10% for a standard straight installation and 15% for diagonal layouts, patterns like herringbone, or rooms with lots of jogs and closets. It also pays to keep one unopened box after the job: matching a discontinued floor years later for a repair is nearly impossible.
How do I measure an irregular room?
Break the floor plan into rectangles, including closets and doorway thresholds, and measure each one at its longest and widest points. Add the areas together, then apply the waste factor to the total. When in doubt, round each measurement up to the next half foot.
Why does box coverage vary so much?
Plank width and length differ by product, so a box of wide-plank vinyl might hold 28 sq ft while a narrow laminate holds 18. Always use the exact coverage printed on the specific product you are buying, and note that some brands print coverage before waste.
Does flooring really need to acclimate?
Most laminate and hardwood should sit in the room, boxed, for about 48 hours before installation so it adjusts to the room's temperature and humidity. Many modern rigid-core vinyl products (SPC) skip this requirement, but check the manufacturer's instructions, since skipping required acclimation can void the warranty.