Flooring Calculator
Flooring — laminate, vinyl plank, hardwood, tile — is sold by the box, and each product covers a different area. Enter your room size and the box's coverage for the number of boxes.
Boxes
11boxes
- Total coverage
- 220 sq ft
How these numbers are worked out
The formula
Boxes = room area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per box, rounded up. Coverage per box is printed on the carton and varies widely by product, so always use the figure for the exact flooring you're buying. Add about 10% for cuts — 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone layouts.
Constants and sources
- Boxes = area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per box, rounded up. Coverage per box is product-specific (from the carton).
How it was checked
Last reviewed . Before this calculator was published, its formula, constants and worked example were checked in a separate, AI-assisted review that redid the arithmetic and tested the factual claims; the site owner then approved it for publishing. No engineer or tradesperson reviews these pages. Where a figure depends on the product (a density, a coverage rate, a bag size), it is either an input you can change above or a fixed planning value stated on this page, so check it against your product's label or your supplier.
Spot a wrong number or an outdated figure? Send a correction.
Worked example
A 215 sq ft room, a box that covers 20 sq ft, 10% waste: 215 × 1.10 = 236.5 ÷ 20 = 11.8 → 12 boxes (rounded up to whole boxes).
FAQs
- Why do I have to enter coverage per box?
- Because it isn't standard — a box of laminate might cover 20 sq ft, vinyl plank 24, hardwood 18 or 22. Using the actual figure from your product is what makes the count accurate.
- How much waste should I add?
- About 10% for a straight-lay rectangular room; 15% or more for diagonal, herringbone, or chevron patterns and rooms with lots of jogs and closets. Keep a spare box or two for repairs — dye lots change.
- Does this work for laminate, vinyl, hardwood, and tile?
- Yes — they're all sold by the box, so as long as you enter that product's coverage per box, the math is the same.