Flooring Calculator
Enter your room's square footage and the coverage printed on the box to get a box count with the right waste built in.
Boxes needed
11 boxes
Area with waste
220.0 sq ft
Total cost
--
At the defaults above (200 sq ft, straight lay, 20 sq ft per box) that's 11 boxes -- 220 sq ft of coverage once the standard 10% waste is added.
How it's calculated
The calculator adds a waste percentage to your raw square footage first, then divides by the box's printed coverage and rounds up to a whole box -- you can't buy a fraction of a box, and running short partway through a room is a bigger problem than a little leftover flooring.
Keep going
- Start here if you don't already have the room's square footage -- it handles odd shapes and cutouts before you price out flooring. Square Footage Calculator
- New flooring usually means new baseboard too; this calculator sizes the trim from the same room's perimeter. Baseboard Calculator
- Comparing hard flooring against carpet for the same room? The carpet calculator prices it out by the square yard instead. Carpet Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
What waste percentage should I use?
10% is the standard default most flooring manufacturers publish for a straight lay -- it covers trim cuts, damaged planks, and future repairs. Bump it up for a small or oddly-shaped room, since a higher share of each board ends up as a cut-off scrap.
Why does a diagonal layout need more waste?
Every board along a diagonal run has an angled cut at both ends instead of a straight one, which wastes more of each plank -- 15% is the commonly published default for a diagonal lay, versus 10% for straight.
Should I round up to the nearest full box?
Yes -- this calculator always rounds the box count up, since flooring is sold by the sealed box and running short mid-install means a possible dye-lot mismatch on the next box you buy.
Does this include underlayment or adhesive?
No -- this calculator covers the flooring material itself. Underlayment and adhesive coverage rates vary a lot by product, so check the specific product's own coverage rating for those.