DIY Home CalcsFlooring Calculator
Estimate how much laminate, vinyl plank, engineered or solid hardwood flooring to buy. Add each room or section as a rectangle, set your waste allowance and the square feet per box, and get the number of boxes plus an optional material cost.
How to measure for new flooring
- Measure the longest length and width of each room in feet, wall to wall. Round up to the next inch.
- Split L-shaped or irregular spaces into rectangles. A hallway, a closet and a bay window can each be their own "room".
- Include areas under appliances you will move, such as a refrigerator or washer, if the floor runs under them.
- Leave out areas under fixed cabinets or kitchen islands.
Worked example
A 14 × 12 ft bedroom with a 6 × 3 ft closet:
- Bedroom: 168 sq ft. Closet: 18 sq ft. Total: 186 sq ft.
- With 10% waste: 204.6 sq ft.
- Vinyl plank in 22.5 sq ft boxes: 204.6 ÷ 22.5 = 9.1, so buy 10 boxes (225 sq ft).
At $3.00 per sq ft that is $675 in flooring. Underlayment, transition strips and baseboard or quarter-round are extra.
Waste allowance by flooring type
| Flooring | Straight layout | Diagonal / herringbone |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | 5–10% | 15% |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | 5–10% | 15% |
| Engineered hardwood | 7–10% | 15% |
| Solid hardwood (random lengths) | 10% | 15–20% |
| Carpet (sold off 12 ft rolls) | Measured differently; ask the installer for a seam plan | |
Things people forget
- Underlayment is sold by the roll in square feet; buy the same total area as the floor, without the waste allowance.
- Transitions are needed at every doorway where the new floor meets a different floor.
- Acclimation. Many manufacturers ask you to leave laminate and hardwood in the room for 48 hours before installing.
- Tiling a bathroom at the same time? Use the tile calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of flooring do I need?
Multiply each room's length by its width, add the rooms together, add 5% to 10% for waste (15% for diagonal or herringbone layouts), then divide by the square feet printed on the box and round up.
How much waste should I add for laminate or vinyl plank?
About 5% to 10%. Click-lock planks waste less than tile because offcuts from one row often start the next row. Rooms with many doorways, closets or angled walls need the higher end.
Should I include closets?
Yes, if the flooring runs into them. Measure each closet as its own small rectangle and add it as another room.
Is square footage the same as the room's area?
Yes. Square footage is length × width in feet. For an L-shaped room, split it into two rectangles and add them; the calculator lets you add as many rectangles as you need.
Can I return unopened boxes?
Many stores accept unopened boxes, but policies differ and special-order flooring is often non-returnable. It is still wise to keep one spare box for future repairs.