Flooring Calculator
Square footage, waste allowance and boxes in one step.
Your numbers
%
$
Your results
Area to buy (sq ft)
Area to buy (sq ft)
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Boxes needed
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Material cost
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Spare flooring (sq ft)
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Flooring Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Flooring Calculator works
Enter the floor area and the coverage of one box.
Add a waste allowance for cuts, with about 10% for straight layouts and 15% for diagonals.
Boxes are rounded up because you cannot buy part of one.
The formula
Boxes = ⌈area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per box⌉
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Floor area (sq ft) | 200 |
|---|---|
| Waste allowance | 10 % |
| Coverage per box (sq ft) | 20 |
| Price per box | $45 |
- Area to buy = 200 × 1.10 = 220.0 sq ft.
- At 20 sq ft per box that is 11 boxes costing $495.00, leaving 20.0 sq ft spare.
Result:
| Area to buy (sq ft) | 220.0 |
|---|---|
| Boxes needed | 11 |
| Material cost | $495.00 |
| Spare flooring (sq ft) | 20.0 |
Frequently asked questions
How much waste should I allow?
About 5–10% for simple layouts, 10–15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns.
Why keep spare boards?
Dye lots vary between batches, so leftovers from the same purchase help with future repairs.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.