Flooring Calculator
Flooring is sold by the box, each covering a set number of square feet. Enter the room area and the coverage on the box to get how many boxes to buy — with waste built in, and how much will be left over.
Your numbers
Result
- Area incl. wastesq ft
- 220
- Total coverage boughtsq ft
- 220
- Leftoversq ft
- 20
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Area to cover | 200.0 sq ft |
| With 10% waste | 220.0 sq ft |
| Boxes to buy | 11 |
| Leftover | 20.0 sq ft |
How many boxes you need
Add a waste allowance to the room area, then divide by the coverage per box and round up. For 200 sq ft with 10% waste and 20 sq ft boxes: 220 ÷ 20 = 11 boxes. Because you round up to whole boxes, there is always some leftover — keep it for repairs.
How much waste to add
10% is standard for a straight layout. Go to 15% for a diagonal install or a busy, cut-up room, and toward 20% for herringbone or wide planks with long runs. Cheaper materials and simple rooms need less; patterned and premium floors need more.
Acclimate and check the lot
Let wood and laminate acclimate in the room for a couple of days before installing, so the planks adjust to the humidity and don't gap or buckle later. Buy all your flooring from the same lot/batch at once — color and finish shift between runs — and save a box for future repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Flooring coverage (box coverage in sq ft + waste)
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