Flooring Calculator

Planning estimate only. Confirm carton coverage, installation instructions, pattern, and acclimation requirements on the selected product before buying.

How the flooring estimate works

The calculator multiplies room length by width, adds your cutting-waste allowance, divides by the coverage per carton, and rounds up to a whole carton. Cost is based on the full cartons you must purchase—not the exact floor area.

How much extra flooring should you buy?

Use 5–10% for a simple rectangular room with a straight layout. Consider 10–15% for diagonal layouts, many corners, closets, damaged boards, or selective color and grain matching. Keep suitable leftovers for future repairs.

Example: a 12 × 12 ft room

A 144 sq ft room with 10% waste requires 158.4 sq ft. If each carton covers 20 sq ft, divide 158.4 by 20 and round up: buy 8 cartons, covering 160 sq ft.

Flooring estimates by room size

These examples use 10% cutting waste and 20 sq ft of packaged coverage per box. Open a room page to change the carton coverage, waste, and price.

Room size	Net area	Area with 10% waste	Boxes at 20 sq ft
10×10 room	100 sq ft	110.0 sq ft	6
10×12 room	120 sq ft	132.0 sq ft	7
12×12 room	144 sq ft	158.4 sq ft	8
12×14 room	168 sq ft	184.8 sq ft	10
14×16 room	224 sq ft	246.4 sq ft	13
20×20 room	400 sq ft	440.0 sq ft	22

Frequently asked questions

How many boxes of laminate flooring do I need?

Add a cutting-waste allowance to the room area, divide by the square feet or square metres covered by one box, then round up to the next full box.

Should I use plank size or box coverage?

Use the coverage per box printed by the manufacturer. It already accounts for the number and dimensions of planks packaged in that carton.

Can I use this for vinyl plank and hardwood?

Yes. The box-based formula works for laminate, vinyl plank, engineered wood, and boxed hardwood when the packaging lists its coverage.

For layout choices, worked examples, and common measuring mistakes, read how many boxes of laminate flooring do I need?

Source check

Carton coverage and allowances vary by product. For example, Shaw lists 23.69 sq ft per carton for one vinyl product and uses a visible 15% calculator allowance. That example is evidence of product-specific variation, not a universal default. Enter the carton coverage and follow the installation instructions for the flooring you selected.

Editorial review

How this page was checked

Reviewed and maintained by Project Material Calculator. The review covers room-area arithmetic, cutting allowance, carton coverage, whole-box rounding, purchased coverage, leftover material, unit conversion, and cost.

Formulas are covered by automated regression tests, and worked examples are checked independently against those formulas.
Product-dependent values remain editable. When manufacturer documentation is linked, it provides a traceable example; the current product label takes priority.
Carton coverage, cutting allowance, full-box rounding, purchased coverage, and leftover material are checked as separate values.

Last reviewed: September 9, 2026. · Read the full methodology · Report a reproducible error

Last reviewed: September 9, 2026.

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