Enter the room size, a waste allowance and the coverage printed on the box. The calculator gives the number of boxes to buy, how much flooring you will have left over and an optional cost. It suits any flooring sold by the box, including vinyl plank and laminate.
This calculator needs JavaScript. The formula and a worked example are below.
How to use the flooring calculator
Measure the room at its widest points. If the room is not a simple rectangle, split it into rectangles and use the square footage calculator to get the total, then enter that total as a single room here.
Take the coverage per box from the packaging. Do not use the plank count. Different products with similar prices can cover very different areas per box.
The formula
Room area = length × width. Area to buy = room area × (1 + waste). Boxes = area to buy ÷ coverage per box, rounded up to the next whole box.
Worked example
A 15 ft by 12 ft room is 180 sq ft. A 10% waste allowance makes it 198 sq ft. With 20 sq ft in each box, 198 ÷ 20 is 9.9, so you need 10 boxes. That covers 200 sq ft and leaves 20 sq ft spare.
Choosing the waste allowance
Straight layouts in square rooms need the least. Diagonal layouts, patterned flooring and rooms with many corners need more. It also helps to keep one extra box for future repairs, because the same batch may not be available later.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work for vinyl plank?
Yes, because planks are sold by the box and the box lists the coverage. See the vinyl plank flooring guide for styles and installation notes.
Should I measure under cabinets?
Only if the flooring will run under them. Floating floors usually stop at the cabinet base.
Why is there left-over flooring?
Boxes are sold whole. The leftover is useful for repairs and for the cuts that are always needed at walls.
Related guides
Read the vinyl plank flooring guide before you buy. After the floor goes in, the baseboard calculator helps with trim, and you can read whether to caulk between baseboard and vinyl flooring.