How to use the flooring calculator
- Measure each room or area at its longest and widest points. Split L-shaped rooms into two rectangles and add each with “Add another area”.
- Include closets, hallways and the space under appliances that will be floored.
- Enter the coverage per box from the packaging or the product page.
- Set the waste allowance: 10% for straight rows in simple rooms, 15% or more for diagonal or patterned layouts.
- Add the price per square foot or square metre, and tick underlayment if your flooring does not have it attached.
How the estimate is worked out
Area needed = floor area × (1 + waste %)
Boxes = area needed ÷ coverage per box, rounded up
Cost = boxes × coverage per box × price per area
Because you can only buy whole boxes, the area you pay for is usually a little more than the area you need. The calculator shows both so the difference is clear. Underlayment is priced on the area needed, since it comes in rolls that are cut to fit.
Worked example
One 15 × 12 ft living room, laminate packed 22 sq ft to a box, 10% waste and $3.50 per sq ft:
- Floor area: 15 × 12 = 180 sq ft.
- With 10% extra: 180 × 1.10 = 198 sq ft.
- Boxes: 198 ÷ 22 = 9, so 9 boxes, holding 198 sq ft.
- Cost: 198 sq ft × $3.50 = $693.00.
Tips and common mistakes
- Let the boards acclimatise. Many manufacturers ask for the unopened boxes to sit flat in the room for about 48 hours so the planks adjust to its temperature and humidity.
- Leave an expansion gap. Floating floors need a small gap at every wall, hidden by skirting or trim. Without it, the floor can buckle in summer.
- Check the subfloor. Dips and bumps telegraph through thin planks. Read the maker’s flatness limits and fix problems before laying.
- Mix boxes as you go. Take planks from three or four boxes at once so slight shade differences spread evenly across the room.
- Keep a spare box. Product lines change, and a damaged plank is easy to replace only if you have a match.
US, UK and Canada differences
US and Canadian stores price laminate and vinyl plank per square foot and list the coverage of each box in square feet. In the UK and Ireland, flooring is priced per square metre and sold in packs, with coverage printed in m² per pack. UK homes often have suspended timber floors upstairs and concrete downstairs, and a damp-proof membrane over concrete is standard practice. Many Canadian basements are concrete too, so check whether your product needs a vapour barrier.
Metric units and other countries
In metric mode, enter room sizes in metres and pack coverage in square metres; the price follows per m². In hot, humid climates such as South Asia and the Gulf, check the product’s rating for moisture, and prefer vinyl or tile in ground-floor rooms that may get damp. Type the price from your local supplier, because flooring prices vary widely between markets.