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Flooring calculator

Enter the size of each room, a waste allowance and the coverage printed on the box. You get the floor area, the flooring to buy and the number of boxes, for hardwood, engineered, laminate or vinyl plank.

Units
Flooring to buy (waste included)228.8sq ftYour results
Floor area

Measure each room wall to wall. Add an area for a closet or an L-shaped section.

Area 1
ft
ft

Total area: 208 sq ft

%

Shaw calls for 5 to 10% depending on the layout, and more for diagonal or herringbone patterns.

sq ft

Printed on the box. Leave blank to see the area only.

Your results

Flooring to buy (waste included)

228.8sq ft

Floor area
208sq ft

Enter the coverage per box to count boxes.

Estimates for planning only. Confirm quantities with your supplier or contractor before you order.

On this page

How to measure for the flooring calculator

  1. Measure each room at its widest points, wall to wall, and enter it as an area.
  2. Split an L-shaped room into two rectangles, and add closets, halls and landings as separate areas.
  3. Include the space under movable furniture. Leave out the space under built-in cabinets or an island if the flooring stops at them.
  4. Find the coverage per box on the product label or specification sheet, in square feet or square metres.

Assumptions behind the flooring calculator

Every default below appears in the calculator and can be changed.

  • Floor area = length × width for each area you enter, added together.
  • Default waste: 10%. Shaw’s hardwood installation instructions call for 5 to 10% depending on the layout, and more for diagonal, herringbone or bordered installs. Mohawk’s solid hardwood instructions say to buy 5% extra for cuts and another 10% for diagonal installs.
  • Boxes are rounded up to whole boxes.
  • Underlay, transition strips, baseboards and stair parts are not included.

Flooring calculator: tips before you buy

  • Keep a spare box after the job for future repairs.
  • If the manufacturer asks you to let the flooring acclimatize in the room, its instructions say how.
  • Check the subfloor for flatness and moisture before ordering; the installation instructions list the tolerances.
  • Stair treads and nosings are sold separately: count the steps rather than measuring them as floor area.

Flooring calculator: frequently asked questions

How much extra flooring should I buy?

Follow the installation instructions for your product. Shaw calls for 5 to 10% depending on the layout, and Mohawk’s solid hardwood instructions add 5% for cuts plus another 10% for diagonal installs. The calculator starts at 10%, and you can change it.

How do I work out the number of boxes?

Divide the flooring to buy (area plus waste) by the coverage per box and round up. For example, 22 m² with boxes covering 2 m² each needs 11 boxes.

Can I use it for tile?

You can, but the tile calculator also counts individual tiles from the tile size, which helps with large tiles sold by the piece.

Should I measure in metric or imperial?

Use whichever matches the product label. Switch the units at the top of the calculator: the values you already entered are converted.

Sources for the flooring calculator

We checked these references on September 10, 2026. Product figures vary, so read the label or data sheet of the product you choose.

Last reviewed September 10, 2026

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