Flooring Calculator: How Much Flooring Do I Need?

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.

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

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

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.