How to use
- Measure the room at the floor, wall to wall. For an L-shape, calculate each rectangle on its own and add the areas, or enter the summed square feet.
- Choose length and width, or switch to a known area if you already measured with the square footage calculator.
- Set a waste percent. Ten percent is a common straight-lay allowance; diagonal and patterned layouts often need more. The field is yours to change.
- Optionally enter a price per square foot. Press Calculate. Reset clears the form.
How it's calculated
Order area = net area × (1 + waste ÷ 100)
Material cost = order area × price per sq ft
Waste is a fraction of the net area, not a deduction. A 180 square foot room with 10 percent waste orders 198 square feet. The price, when you enter one, uses that larger figure, because the supplier charges for the boards you take home, including the offcuts.
This is not a plank-count tool. Plank width, box coverage, and direction changes belong on the tile calculator or on the box label. If you only need square yards of broadloom, use the carpet calculator.
Worked example
A 12 by 15 foot room is 180 square feet. At 10 percent waste the order is 198 square feet. At $3.40 per square foot the material is 198 × 3.40 = $673.20. Labor, if someone else installs it, is not included here; the cost per square foot calculator can add a labor rate on the net area.
Assumptions and sources
The only geometry is a rectangle, or an area you already trust. One square foot is a foot by a foot. No industry group publishes a single required waste percent, so the percent is an input, not a hidden rule. Actual board width, acclimation, and underlayment are outside this estimate. Paint for the walls is a different job; the ClearQuip paint calculator covers gallons.
FAQ
How much extra flooring should I order?
There is no single correct percent. Straight layouts are often ordered with about 5 to 10 percent extra. Diagonal, herringbone, and tile patterns usually need more. Use a percent your installer recommends, and keep the leftover for later repairs.
Should I calculate waste on the net area or after rounding boxes?
This tool applies waste to the square footage first. If the product is sold by the box, divide the order area by the coverage printed on the box, then round up to a whole box.
Do closets count?
Count every square foot that will receive the new floor, including closets. Leave out areas that keep the old floor.
Is this the same as square yards?
No. Carpet is often sold by the square yard, and one square yard is 9 square feet. Divide the order area by 9, or use the carpet calculator.