Flooring Calculator
How many boxes of laminate, vinyl, or hardwood do you need?
How this is calculated
- Room area = length × width
- Order amount = area × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)
- Cartons = ⌈order amount ÷ carton coverage⌉
- Cost = order amount × price per sq ft
Common questions
How much flooring do I need for a 12×12 room?
A 12 × 12 room is 144 sq ft. With the standard 10% cutting allowance, buy 158 sq ft — that is 7 cartons at 24 sq ft per carton. Always check your carton's actual coverage; it varies by brand from 12 to 30 sq ft.
How much waste should I add for flooring?
10% for normal rectangular rooms with a straight lay. Use 15% for diagonal installations, herringbone, or rooms with lots of alcoves, closets, and jogs. Plank flooring cut at doorways and against walls adds up faster than people expect.
How many sq ft are in a carton of flooring?
There is no standard — laminate often 12-20 sq ft, LVP 20-30, hardwood 15-25. The exact number is printed on the carton label and on the product page. Buy by the carton (retailers will not split boxes) and keep an unopened carton for repairs; dye lots change.
Do I need underlayment too?
For laminate over a subfloor, yes — a foam underlayment (often pre-attached) handles minor subfloor flaws and sound. LVP can usually go down without it on flat subfloors. Check your product's requirements; warranty coverage depends on following them.
Should flooring go under appliances and cabinets?
For floating floors (laminate, LVP), professionals usually run them under appliances for a continuous look, but heavy cabinetry must NOT pin a floating floor — expansion needs room. Nail-down hardwood is installed after cabinets in most remodels.