Flooring Calculator
Work out how many boxes of flooring to buy from the room area, your box coverage, and a waste allowance, with the total material cost. Calculates in your browser.
Boxes to buy
-
Show the math
Add waste to the room area, then round up to whole boxes:
area incl. waste = area × (1 + waste%)
boxes = ⌈area incl. waste ÷ coverage per box⌉
Plan for about 10% waste, more for diagonal layouts or rooms with many angles. Flooring is sold by the box, so the count rounds up. All math runs locally in your browser.
What this does
A flooring calculator works out how many boxes to buy from the room area, the coverage per box, and a waste allowance, with the total material cost.
How to use it
- Enter the room area.
- Enter the coverage per box.
- Add a waste allowance.
- Read the boxes and cost.
How it works
Flooring is sold in full boxes, so the total is rounded up. Plan about 10% waste for cuts, more for diagonal layouts.
boxes = area × (1 + waste) ÷ box coverage
Understanding your result
Flooring sells in whole boxes, so the total is rounded up, and the 10 percent waste, more for diagonal layouts or long narrow rooms, covers cuts and the odd damaged plank. Let the material acclimate in the room before laying, and keep an unopened spare box, since matching the exact run later is rarely possible once a batch sells through.
Example
A 200 sq ft room with 20 sq ft boxes and 10% waste needs 11 boxes.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
How much extra flooring should I order?
Plan for about 10% waste for cuts and offcuts, more for diagonal layouts or rooms with many angles and closets.
Why buy by the box?
Flooring is sold in full boxes covering a set area, so the tool rounds up and shows the cost from your price per box.
What about underlayment?
This sizes the flooring itself. Underlayment and trim are separate, match underlayment to the same square footage.
Is my project saved?
No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.
Related tools
Tile Calculator
Find how many tiles and boxes you need for a floor or wall from the area and your tile size, with an adjustable waste allowance for cuts and breakage. Calculates in your browser.
Square Footage Calculator
Work out the square footage of an area from its length and width in feet and inches, across one or more identical areas, with an optional waste allowance and material cost. Calculates in your browser.
Paint Calculator
Work out how many gallons of paint a room needs from its dimensions and number of coats, with doors and windows subtracted from the wall area. Calculates in your browser.
Concrete Calculator
Calculate the concrete for a slab, footing, or pad in cubic yards and cubic feet, plus how many 40, 60, or 80 lb bags it takes, with a waste allowance. Calculates in your browser.