Flooring Calculator

US & Canada

Enter your room size to get the flooring to order with waste, the boxes to buy, plus underlayment and baseboard.

Your floor

1. Room size

ft
ft

For an L-shaped room, split it into rectangles and add the boxes up.

2. Waste and boxes

sq ft
sq ft

Box and roll coverage vary by product: copy the figures printed on the ones you are buying.

3. Baseboard

doors
in

Result

0

What to buy

Buy all boxes from the same lot, and keep a spare box for repairs.

How the flooring maths works

  • Room area = length × width
  • Flooring to order = area × (1 + waste)
  • Boxes = flooring to order ÷ coverage per box, rounded up
  • Baseboard = perimeter − doorway widths

This works for laminate, vinyl plank, engineered and solid hardwood, and carpet tiles. For tile, use the tile calculator.

Flooring to order for common rooms

Flooring to order with 5, 10 and 15 percent waste
Room Area +5% +10% +15%
10 × 10 ft 100 sq ft 105 110 115
10 × 12 ft 120 sq ft 126 132 138
12 × 12 ft 144 sq ft 151.2 158.4 165.6
12 × 16 ft 192 sq ft 201.6 211.2 220.8
14 × 18 ft 252 sq ft 264.6 277.2 289.8
16 × 20 ft 320 sq ft 336 352 368

Before you buy

  • Buy from one lot. Colour and texture can shift between production runs.
  • Acclimate it. Many products need to sit in the room for a day or more before installation. Follow the box.
  • Check the underlayment rules. Some vinyl plank has a pad attached and must not go over a second one.

Common questions

How much flooring do I need for a 12x12 room?
A 12 × 12 room is 144 sq ft. With 10% waste, order 158.4 sq ft. At 20 sq ft a box that is 8 boxes, but box coverage varies, so use the figure on yours.
How much extra flooring should I buy?
10% for most rooms. 5% can do for a simple square room with long planks laid straight; use 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns and rooms with many corners. Keep a spare box for future repairs.
How many boxes of flooring for 500 square feet?
500 sq ft plus 10% is 550 sq ft. At 20 sq ft per box that is 28 boxes. Divide by your own box coverage for an exact count.
How much flooring for 1,000 square feet?
Order about 1,100 sq ft with 10% waste, or 102.2 m².
How do I measure a room for flooring?
Measure the longest length and width wall to wall, and multiply. For L-shaped rooms, split them into rectangles and add the areas. Include closets and the space under doors, where the flooring runs through.
How much baseboard do I need?
The room's perimeter minus the doorways. A 12 × 12 room with one 36 in door needs 45 linear feet. Add about 10% for corner cuts, since mitres waste a little at each corner.