Laminate is a solid choice for many homes because it's durable and budget-friendly. Check out this guide to learn about laminate flooring installation costs.
Flooring Calculator: How Much Flooring Do I Need?
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Calculating floor area for laminate flooring requires you to multiply your room's length by width, then add 10 percent extra for installation mistakes and future repairs.
Expect to pay $3 to $22 per square foot for flooring installation, with contractor labor ranging from $0.60 to $4 per square foot depending on your project.
Measure your room at floor level at its widest points, then add or subtract closets and bumpouts to determine the total square footage you need.
Hiring a local flooring company provides reliable help with measurements and material calculations, keeping your installation on track and ensuring you purchase the right amount.
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New floors transform a space, giving it a fresh look and feel. But it can be hard to know how much flooring you need. Use this flooring calculator to figure out exactly how much flooring you need, including extra materials for mistakes and repairs. Plus, learn how much to budget for your project.
How Much Flooring You Need for a Room
Using your room’s length and width, refer to the table below to estimate how much flooring you need. Flooring professionals recommend buying an extra 5% to 15% of your flooring material to account for installation mistakes, future repairs, and potential shortages if you need more in the future. Our chart uses 10% extra material as a guideline.
| Room Size in Feet | Square Footage | Flooring Needed in Square Feet (includes 10% extra) | Average Cost for Flooring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6x10 | 60 | 66 | $200–$1,450 |
| 8x10 | 80 | 88 | $260–$1,940 |
| 11x12 | 132 | 146 | $440–$3,210 |
| 10x14 | 140 | 154 | $460–$3,390 |
| 12x18 | 216 | 238 | $710–$5,240 |
| 14x16 | 224 | 247 | $740–$5,430 |
| 15x20 | 300 | 330 | $990–$7,260 |
How to Calculate How Much Flooring You Need
Using your room’s length and width, apply the following formula to determine how much flooring you need:
Flooring Needed (in square feet) = Length of space (in feet) x Width of space (in feet) x 1.1
Always round up to the nearest inch in flooring. This formula assumes you’ll need 10% extra material for installation errors and future repairs. For laminate, tile, or vinyl, you might only need 5%, so adjust the formula accordingly.
Keep in mind that not all flooring materials come in the exact square footage you need. A box of vinyl plank flooring might cover 20 or 26 square feet, so round up to ensure you have what you need.
How to Measure a Room for Flooring
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If you don’t have floor plans for your house, you’ll need to take measurements of your room to determine its square footage.
How to Measure the Length and Width of a Room
Measure the room's length at its widest point with a tape measure, from one edge of the floor to the other. Round up to the nearest inch and write the number down. Then, measure the room's width at floor level at its widest point. Write the number down.
How to Measure Additional Areas
Many rooms have additional areas, such as a closet or bumpout. Measure the length and width of that area and either add or subtract it from your total square footage, depending on whether you want it to be part of your flooring project.
How to Measure an Irregularly Shaped Room
For rooms that aren’t square or rectangular, here’s how to figure out the square footage.
Circular spaces: Measure the diameter of the circle. Divide the diameter by 2 to find the radius. Square the radius (multiply it by itself), then multiply that value by pi (π = 3.14159265).
Trapezoid: Measure the length of the two parallel sides, and add them together. Measure the height of the trapezoid by measuring the distance between the two parallel sides. Plug in the dimensions to this formula: Square footage = ½ (length of the two parallel sides added together) x height.
Who to Hire to Install Flooring
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A local flooring installation pro or general contractor is best for installing most types of flooring, including vinyl plank and carpet. If you’re tiling a bathroom or kitchen, opt for a local tile specialist with the skills and tools for meticulous prep, cutting, and installation. The cost to hire a flooring installation contractor ranges from $0.60 to $4 per square foot and ensures your floor is level and will last its whole lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flooring services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.4★ avg. • 41 total reviews
- Sarah E.
Joseph did a great job with the staircase and trim. Timely and efficient, clear communication about the work, very fair pricing. For the stairs in particular, done very skillfully in an old house (1893) in a tight spiral, and very creative with how to do the handrail. Did a nice job with...
Vouis Trim Carpentry L.L.C. - Jena P.
This company does it right. Firstly, I want to say that Landan was a joy to work with. He was so kind, transparent, and had everything under control. His entire team showed up ready to work and they were all very respectful of the fact that we were in an office space. A little backstory – we...
Krumlauf Floors - Gina M.
Finished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc. - Jeanann S.
Very professional, knowledgeable and helpful! Completed the install on time and as expected.
Ward's Services - Grace G.
Excellent, Prompt, Courteous Service!!! They were super friendly and quite personable. I felt very comfortable with the gentlemen that did the installation. They installed it exactly where I asked them to and they did an excellent job!! I loved their service so much.
Tether House - David E.
Window Depot did an amazing job installing the windows in my basement! The process from start to finish was by far more than what I expected. I would highly recommend Window Depot if you want professionalism from the the consultation to the installation. Dont settle for mediocre when you can...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Tom B.
AFS was excellent from start to finish. Jess, the sales associate, was fantastic...very knowledgeable and very professional. The installation crew was excellent. I couldn't be more pleased with the process. Best of all, my new floor looks fantastic!
America's Floor Source - Bob T.
We were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTile - Jake H.
Did an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLC - Bob T.
We hired Jim to replace our hardwood floors with new hardwood. He and his helper Jerry did a fantastic job. Their work ethic is impeccable!! We would highly recommend McColl Floors!
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