Softonic

Flooring Calculator

Step 1 / 4 Estimated cost
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Enter your room’s length and width in feet, the square feet each box of flooring covers, your waste percentage and the price per box. The calculator returns the floor area, the waste-adjusted area, the number of boxes to order and the estimated cost. Use the waste factor table below to pick the right percentage for your install pattern.

How to estimate flooring

  1. 1

    Enter room dimensions

    Length and width in feet. The calculator covers one rectangular room, so measure the full run including any closet or alcove you plan to floor.

  2. 2

    Set the waste percentage

    Straight lays typically need 7-10% waste, diagonal or complex patterns 15-20%. Use the table below as a guide.

  3. 3

    Enter box coverage and price

    Check the SKU for the square feet each box covers and enter it, along with the price per box if you want a cost estimate.

  4. 4

    Read the results

    Floor area, waste-adjusted area, boxes to order and estimated cost, with the box count rounded up automatically.

Recommended waste factors

Install pattern Waste factor Notes
Straight lay 7 - 10% Standard for vinyl, laminate, hardwood
Diagonal (45°) 15% More triangular cuts at walls
Herringbone 15 - 20% Joinery requires extra offcuts
Chevron 15 - 20% Angled plank ends increase waste
Large pattern tile 10 - 15% Pattern repeat drives layout waste
Complex room shape +5% Add on top of base factor

Quick rules of thumb

  • Add 10% of total square footage for attic stock, extra planks or tiles to keep for future repairs if the product line is discontinued.
  • For rooms under 100 sqft, round up the box count rather than trust the waste percentage.
  • Always order all flooring from the same batch / dye lot. Mixing batches can produce visible shade lines.

Example: a 12 x 15 ft living room

  • Base square footage: 12 * 15 = 180 sqft
  • Straight install waste at 10%: 180 * 1.10 = 198 sqft
  • If each box covers 24.3 sqft: 198 / 24.3 = 8.15, so order 9 boxes
  • Underlayment: 180 sqft plus 5% seam overlap = 189 sqft, so 2 standard 100 sqft rolls

Common mistakes

  • Buying exactly the square footage with no waste factor: the first cut-off plank leaves you short.
  • Forgetting closets, bump-outs and hearths: measure them and include their area in the room dimensions instead of approximating.
  • Ignoring transition strips. Every doorway needs a T-molding or threshold; each strip is a separate line item.
  • Mixing dye lots when adding to a job months later. Even the same SKU can look different from a new batch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan for 10% waste on a straight lay in a simple rectangular room, 15% for a diagonal or complex shape, and 15-20% for herringbone or chevron. On top of that, keep an extra box (or the contractor’s equivalent “attic stock”) for future repairs.

Yes, if you intend to floor the closet. Most jobs do. Measure the closet and include its area in the room dimensions you enter, or run a separate calculation and add the box counts.

Divide the waste-adjusted square footage by the box coverage (check the flooring SKU, usually 18-30 sqft per box) and round up. Never round down, even if you are only 0.2 sqft short.

You need the same square footage as the flooring, plus ~5% for seam overlap. For laminate and LVP specifically, check whether the planks come with attached underlayment, if so, you only need underlayment over concrete for moisture protection.

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