Flooring Calculator
Calculate the square footage and number of boxes you need for laminate, hardwood, vinyl plank, or carpet — with waste included.
Flooring needed
Estimated flooring material cost (material only) using 2026 averages. Excludes underlayment, trim, and labor — confirm with your store.
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Estimated quantities for your project — prices and stock vary by store.
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Floor layout visualizer
See exactly how your planks will land — staggered, diagonal, herringbone and more — with cut pieces and a recommended layout that avoids thin slivers.
How the flooring calculator works
We multiply length × width to get the room's square footage, add a waste allowance for cuts and mistakes, then divide by the coverage listed on each box of flooring and round up to whole boxes.
- Check the box: coverage per box varies a lot — it's printed on the carton (often 18–24 sq ft).
- Buy from one batch: dye lots vary, so order all your flooring together.
- Keep a spare box for future repairs; flooring lines get discontinued.
- Diagonal & herringbone create far more cuts — choosing one above bumps the waste to 15% or 20% so you don't run short.
Frequently asked questions
How much flooring waste should I plan for?
10% is standard. Use 5% for a simple rectangular room and up to 15% for diagonal layouts, lots of doorways, or herringbone patterns.
Do I measure the whole room?
Measure each rectangular section and add them together. For L-shaped rooms, split the space into two rectangles.