Estimate flooring area and cost.
Installation, underlayment, trim, taxes and delivery are not included.
Material required = Floor area × (1 + Waste allowance)The calculation converts entered dimensions into area or volume, then applies coverage, pack size, coats or waste where supported. Openings, slopes, pattern matching, uneven surfaces and manufacturer coverage can change the final purchase quantity.
Our Flooring Calculator can tell you what you’ll need in Flooring Materials for a room or area. You can put the length and width into the calculator and specify a waste percentage (if thecalculator gives you that option.) It can give you an idea of square footage prior to buying a product. Remember that this is a planning estimate and not a contractor’s estimate; exact needs can also be based on the room configuration, installation layout, cutting style, flooring packaging, and whether the manufacturer recommends anything else.
A Flooring Calculator essentially finds floor area (length × width) and if waste is added it increases the area by the selected percentage to get an approximation for how much material to buy.
In a basic square or rectangular room, that’s no problem. For irregular rooms, divide them into measurable parts, do each section and then add all of the sections together.
For a rectangular area, the basic flooring area formula is:
Area = Length × Width
If a waste percentage is included:
Required Material = Area × (1 + Waste Percentage ÷ 100)
For example, for a room with dimensions of 12 feet by 15 feet, the area of the base is 180 sq. Ft., and including an additional 10% (in case of waste), the estimated amount needed is about 198 sq. Ft.
Length: the room or section length in feet.
Width: the room or section width in feet.
Area: the calculated floor surface in square feet.
Waste Percentage: the additional material allowance expressed as a percentage.
Imagine your bedroom is 14 feet long and 11 feet wide. We are trying to calculate how much floor covering is required and we are planning to allow an extra 10% to account for wastage.
Measurements: Length = 14 feet; Width = 11 feet.
Step 1: Calculate the floor area.
14 × 11 = 154 square feet
Step 2: Calculate the waste allowance.
154 × 10% = 15.4 square feet
Step 3: Add the allowance to the base area.
154 + 15.4 = 169.4 square feet
Estimated result: approximately 169.4 square feet of flooring material.
When in doubt, make sure to calculate how much you should order based on the size of the products and whether or not they come in any special size bundles. You probably won't be able to order 169.4 square feet; instead you might have to buy it in entire boxes.
What this calculate flooring size should give you is just the area you need to cover. However it is not always how much you may need to buy. Cuts and off-cuts waste product in the course of fitting flooring and this flooring cannot always be used effectively.
Your actual area is calculated using the details that you provide and a purchasing estimate could vary depending on your project's conditions.
When you know the measurements to your spaces, enter it into the calculator. For larger spaces, measure each wall twice at both ends of the space.
To calculate the square footage of the floor area of a rectangular room, simply multiply length by width. When determining the quantity of material you'll need to buy, be sure to factor in an allowance for waste.
A 12 by 15 room contains 180 square feet of floor area, since 12 x 15 = 180. We are going to be using a lot more due to waste and package coverage.
Yes, sometimes a little extra might need to be considered when estimating what to buy. The amount will vary depending on the floor covering you use, the shape of room, fit and manufacturer's recommended over-ordering and these will help you determine an amount for yourself.
Break down each part of the space into smaller areas or rectangles that can be easily measured. Measure the area of each part individually then add up all the area measurements. Take care not to measure any one area twice.
An area calculation tells you the estimated square footage required. To determine the number of boxes, divide the required square footage by the coverage stated on the product packaging and round up to a whole package.
Yes Installation direction, pattern, shape of room and # of cuts can lead to less available product. Always refer to your specific floor manufacturer guidelines.
Measure each section separately, add the sections and calculate before adding waste. Compare the result with the exact package coverage and round up to a purchasable quantity.
Measure each room or section, add the areas and confirm the unit. The calculator applies the selected waste allowance and pack coverage to estimate a purchase quantity. Waste accounts for cuts, breakage and pattern matching; it is not a substitute for measuring irregular sections.
Simple rectangular layouts generally create less cutting than diagonal patterns, narrow hallways or rooms with many corners. Product shape and installer experience also matter. Use the calculator result as a planning estimate, then confirm the pack coverage and recommended allowance printed by the manufacturer.
Verify transitions, closets, stairs and spaces under fixed cabinetry according to the installation plan. Round up to whole purchasable packs and consider whether matching dye lots or discontinued stock justify a small reserve.
Before using the estimate, verify the measurement unit, repeat the most important dimension and confirm the product coverage or order unit. Keep the raw measurement separate from the waste-adjusted purchase quantity so later changes can be recalculated without starting over.