How to use the flooring calculator
- Choose metric or imperial units.
- Enter the length and width of the room.
- Enter the coverage area of a single box of flooring.
- Set a waste allowance for cuts around edges and obstacles (10% is typical).
- See the total area, boxes, and leftover coverage update instantly.
How it works
Room area is Length × Width. We add your waste percentage to account for cuts, offcuts, and mistakes: Total area needed = Room area × (1 + Waste%). That figure is divided by the coverage per box and rounded up, since flooring is sold in full boxes: Boxes needed = ROUND UP(Total area needed ÷ Coverage per box).
Examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 20 m² room, 2.2 m² per box, 10% waste | ≈ 22 m² → 10 boxes |
| 220 ft² room, 24 ft² per box, 10% waste | ≈ 242 ft² → 11 boxes |
Frequently asked questions
How much extra flooring should I order for waste?
10% is standard for a simple rectangular room. Increase to 15% for rooms with lots of alcoves, diagonal layouts, or herringbone patterns.
Does plank direction affect how much flooring I need?
Laying planks along the longer dimension of the room can slightly reduce offcut waste, but the difference is usually within your waste allowance.
Should I measure closets and alcoves separately?
Include them in your total floor area — it's simpler to measure the full footprint than to add small alcoves back in later.
What if my flooring is sold by the plank, not the box?
Enter the coverage of a single plank in the "coverage per box" field and the calculator will treat each plank as one unit.
How do I account for a hallway or connected room?
Add its area to the total by calculating it separately and summing the two areas before entering waste and coverage.
Related tools
Tile Calculator
Enter your area and tile size to find out exactly how many tiles — and how many boxes — to buy for your project.
Wallpaper Calculator
Enter your wall size, roll dimensions, and pattern repeat to see exactly how many rolls of wallpaper to buy.
Paint Calculator
Enter your wall dimensions and paint coverage to see exactly how much paint to buy, including doors, windows, and extra coats.
Fabric Calculator
Enter your project dimensions and fabric width to work out exactly how much fabric yardage to buy.