Materials Calculators

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.

Total floor area (use the square footage calculator if unsure).

Printed on the carton — varies a lot by plank/tile.

10% for straight rooms; 15%+ for diagonal layouts or lots of cuts.

Boxes

11boxes

Total coverage
220 sq ft

How it’s calculated

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.

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.

Sources

  • Boxes = area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per box, rounded up. Coverage per box is product-specific (from the carton).

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