Flooring Calculator
Tell us your room size and we’ll estimate how many boxes of flooring to buy.
How to measure a room
Measure the widest and longest points of the room, including closets, alcoves, and under appliances. For L-shaped rooms, split into rectangles and add the areas.
How we calculated it
Flooring is bought by the box, so we take your floor area (measured or entered directly), add a waste percentage for cuts and mistakes, divide by your box’s coverage, and round up to whole boxes.
Things that can change your result
- Layout drives waste: straight lays need about 10%, diagonals and herringbone 15% or more.
- Wide planks and big tiles waste more per cut than narrow ones.
- Patterned or variable-batch products benefit from an extra box for matching.
Buying tips
- Buy all boxes from the same lot number — dye lots vary between production runs.
- Keep a spare box after the job for future repairs; matching discontinued flooring is painful.
- Boxes list exact coverage on the label — use that number, not the shelf tag.
Common mistakes
- Skipping closets and doorways.
- Using 10% waste on a diagonal layout.
- Buying to the exact square foot — partial boxes aren’t sold.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of flooring do I need for a 12×10 room?
That’s 120 sq. ft.; with 10% waste you’re buying for 132. At 20 sq. ft. per box, that’s 7 boxes.
What waste percentage should I use?
10% for a straight lay in a simple room; 15% for diagonal patterns, rooms with many corners, or first-time installs.
Do I subtract for the kitchen island or vanity?
Generally no — flooring usually runs under or gets cut around them, and the offcuts aren’t reusable elsewhere.