PRACTICAL HOME PROJECT MATH
Flooring calculator
Calculate room area, whole boxes and estimated material cost.
YOUR PLANNING ESTIMATE
Enter your measurements
See the calculation
Measure the floor area
For a rectangular room, multiply length by width. Include closets or connected areas that will receive the same flooring. For an irregular room, divide the space into rectangles and add their areas; this tool handles one rectangle at a time.
From area to boxes
Apply your chosen cutting allowance to the room area, divide by the product’s coverage per box and round up to the next whole box. The estimate multiplies whole boxes by the entered box price, so the cost reflects what you would buy rather than a fractional box.
A worked example
A 12 × 10 ft room is 120 sq ft. With 10% extra, plan for 132 sq ft. At 20 sq ft per box, buy seven boxes. At $45 per box, the material estimate is $315 before tax or delivery.
What is outside the estimate?
Underlayment, transitions, trim, adhesives, preparation, removal, installation labor and tax are separate. Pattern direction and layout can change waste. Ask the supplier or installer for an allowance appropriate to the product and room.