How to calculate flooring
Start with the room's area, then add a waste allowance for cuts, mistakes, and future repairs:
Flooring needed = length × width × (1 + waste %)
To find how many boxes to buy, divide that total by the coverage printed on each box and round up. For non-rectangular rooms, split the space into rectangles, calculate each, and add them together.
How much waste should you add?
| Layout | Recommended waste |
|---|---|
| Straight, simple rectangular room | 8–10% |
| Rooms with closets, angles, or obstacles | 10–15% |
| Diagonal layout | 15% |
| Herringbone or chevron | 15–20% |
Flooring types and how they're sold
The square-footage method is the same for every product — only the coverage per box and the price change:
- Laminate. A printed wear layer over a fiberboard core. Inexpensive and DIY-friendly with a click-lock floating install; boxes commonly cover about 20 sq ft.
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Waterproof and forgiving over slightly uneven subfloors — the go-to for kitchens, baths, and basements. Click-lock or glue-down.
- Engineered wood. A real-wood veneer over a plywood core that's more stable than solid wood, so it suits wider planks and below-grade rooms.
- Solid hardwood. Milled from one piece of wood and nailed down; it can be sanded and refinished many times, but it moves with humidity, so it needs acclimation.
- Tile. Sold by the box too, but estimated a little differently — see our tile calculator.
How much does flooring cost?
Material runs roughly $1–$8 per square foot: budget laminate and basic LVP at the low end, engineered and solid hardwood toward the top. The extras add up too — underlayment, transition strips, and trim are all priced separately, and professional installation typically adds another $2–$6 per square foot on top of the flooring.
Don't forget the extras
- Underlayment. Floating floors need a foam or cork underlayment (some planks have it pre-attached); it's sized by the same square footage.
- Transitions and trim. Doorways, thresholds, and the gap at the walls need T-moldings, reducers, and quarter-round or new baseboard.
- Vapor barrier. Over concrete, add a poly moisture barrier under the underlayment.
Buy it right the first time
- Order one spare box. A matching repair years later is priceless once your product is discontinued.
- Check the box coverage. Coverage per box varies by brand and plank size — always read the carton rather than assuming.
- Acclimate the flooring. Let wood and laminate sit in the room 48+ hours so it adjusts to your home's humidity before installing.
- Buy from one lot. Confirm all boxes share the same dye/run number so the color and finish match.