Flooring Calculator
Work out how many boxes of flooring a room needs — any type sold by the box — from the room size, the coverage printed on the box, and a cutting allowance.
Almost all plank and tile flooring is sold by the box, and the box tells you how much floor it covers. This calculator turns your room size and that one number into a box count — with waste included, so the last row does not come up short.
Use it for any boxed flooring. For a plank-by-plank count, use the hardwood, laminate or vinyl calculators, which also tell you how many individual planks you need.
Your results
Enter your measurements and press Calculate.
Quantities are rounded up to whole tiles, planks, boxes or bags, after the wastage allowance. Cost appears only when you enter a price.
Formula
All lengths are converted to a single unit before the calculation: 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m², 1 yd² = 9 ft². Material quantities are rounded up — you cannot buy part of a tile, plank or bag.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the room at its longest and widest points.
- Read the coverage per box from the packaging (sq ft or sq m).
- Set wastage — 10% for straight runs, 15% for diagonal.
- Add the price per box if you want a cost estimate.
Worked example
| Room | 12 ft × 15 ft = 180 ft² |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 20 ft² per box |
| Area to buy (10% wastage) | 180 × 1.10 = 198 ft² |
| Boxes | ⌈198 ÷ 20⌉ = ⌈9.9⌉ = 10 boxes |
| Cost at $45 per box | 10 × $45 = $450 |
Check it by hand: every step above uses the formula in the box. If your numbers match the example inputs but the calculator gives a different answer, please report it via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What is flooring wastage?
The extra material consumed by cuts: boards cut to fit at the end of each row, around doorways, and for damaged pieces. 10% covers most straight layouts; diagonal layouts and rooms with many corners need 15%.
Should I measure the room or the floor area after skirting boards?
Measure wall to wall at the longest and widest points. Flooring runs under the skirting board (or to the wall with an expansion gap), so the wall-to-wall area is the right figure.
What if the room is not a rectangle?
Split it into rectangles, calculate each one with this calculator, and add the box counts. For L-shaped rooms, two rectangles are usually enough.
Why buy a whole extra box?
Boxes are sold whole, and dye or batch differences matter. A spare box from the same batch covers future repairs; a later box may not match.
Related calculators
Estimates only. Results are for planning. Measure twice, confirm box coverage and tile sizes on the packaging you buy, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. See the disclaimer.