Flooring Calculator
Works for laminate, vinyl plank, engineered wood and hardwood sold by the box. Enter your room size and the coverage printed on the box to get the number of boxes, with a waste allowance for your layout.
Results
How the flooring calculator works
Flooring is sold by the box, and each box lists its coverage in square feet. The calculator takes your room area, adds a waste allowance for cuts and the odd damaged plank, then divides by the box coverage and rounds up to whole boxes.
Formula: room area × (1 + waste%) ÷ box coverage = boxes (rounded up)
| Layout | Add |
|---|---|
| Straight / plank runs | 10% |
| Diagonal | 15% |
| Herringbone / chevron | 20% |
Box coverage varies a lot — laminate boxes often hold about 20 sq ft, luxury vinyl plank 20–30, and hardwood bundles anywhere from 18 to 24 — so always enter the figure printed on the box you're actually buying.
Buying tips
- Measure each room at its widest points and treat alcoves and closets as separate rectangles you add on.
- Order all your flooring in one go, from the same dye lot — colour and grain vary between production runs.
- Keep at least one unopened box after the job. Discontinued lines are impossible to match, and a spare box turns a scratched plank into a ten-minute fix.
- Underlayment, transition strips and trim are separate — factor them in when budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of flooring do I need for a 12x15 room?
A 12 × 15 ft room is 180 square feet. With a 10% straight-lay waste allowance and boxes covering 20 sq ft each, you need 10 boxes (about 200 sq ft purchased).
How much extra flooring should I buy for waste?
Add 10% for a standard straight installation, 15% for diagonal, and up to 20% for herringbone or chevron. Busy rooms with lots of cuts, or long narrow planks, lean toward the higher end.
How do I calculate how much flooring I need?
Multiply the room length by width for the area, add your waste percentage, then divide by the square footage each box covers and round up to whole boxes.
Should I buy flooring by the box or the square foot?
Flooring is sold in full boxes, so you always round up to whole boxes. Price is quoted both per box and per square foot — the calculator can total either, but you'll still receive and pay for complete boxes.