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Flooring Calculator: How Much Flooring Do I Need?
You’ll be floored by how easy this is
Photo: Infinity Lens/ Adobe Stock
Photo: Infinity Lens/ Adobe Stock
Highlights
Multiply a room’s length and width for total square footage.
Add or subtract additional areas, such as your closet floor or a bumpout.
Factor in 10% extra material to account for mistakes and future repairs.
Take careful measurements and use formulas for irregular shapes.
Installing new flooring costs an average of $3 to $22 per square foot.
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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
Photo: Ezequiel Giménez/Stocksy/ Adobe Stock
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
Photo: Dobrila Vignjevic/ Getty Images
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
The rule of three for flooring means that you should have a maximum of three flooring types throughout your home, such as hardwood in your bedroom and living room and tile in your kitchen and bathroom. The rule brings cohesion to your home and creates a seamless look. By using the same material, you also save money on future repairs.
Flooring costs $3,162 on average, but can range between $1,530 and $4,860, depending on the flooring type and room size. New flooring costs an average of $3 to $22 per square foot, including installation. Vinyl plank flooring and carpet fall on the lower end, while stone, tile, and hardwood are among the most expensive flooring materials.
The cheapest flooring is standard vinyl plank flooring, which costs about $2 to $7 per square foot, depending on the brand and style. Vinyl mimics the look of wood or stone and is durable and great for high-traffic homes. It’s easy to install, and moderate DIYers can tackle the job to save further on costs.
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