Flooring Calculator

Flooring is sold in packs, and every range covers a different area per pack. That makes working out how much you need more awkward than it looks, and ordering short is the most common mistake we see. Our flooring calculator does the arithmetic for you.

How the flooring calculator works

1. Start with the floor area

Measure the length and width of the room in metres and multiply them together. For an L-shaped room, or one with a bay, split it into rectangles and work each out separately. The calculator lets you add several areas and totals them for you.

Measure the full floor, including under radiators and into doorways. Do not deduct kitchen units or anything else fixed in place unless the floor genuinely will not run beneath it.

2. Add an allowance for cuts

Every fit produces offcuts. Boards are cut to length at the end of each row, trimmed around door frames, and started fresh at the edges of the room. Some of that waste cannot be reused.

Floor type	Waste allowance
Plank, laminate and LVT	10%
Herringbone, chevron and Versailles	15%

Angled cuts waste more, which is why patterned floors carry the higher allowance. The calculator applies the right figure for the floor you are looking at. You can untick it, but we would not advise it unless you are certain.

3. Round up to whole packs

You cannot buy part of a pack, so the total is always rounded up to the next whole one. The calculator shows you the coverage you will actually receive, so there are no surprises.

The leftover is not wasted. Keep the spare boards flat and dry somewhere in the house. If a board is ever damaged, a matching replacement from the same batch is worth having.

Worked example

A 4m by 3m bedroom, in a floor supplied in 0.96m² packs, at 10% for cuts.

Step	Result
Floor area, 4m × 3m	12m²
Plus 10% for cuts	13.2m²
Divided by 0.96m² per pack	13.75, rounded up to 14 packs
Coverage supplied	13.44m²

The calculator works all of this out the moment you type your room size in.

Before you order

Measure twice

Check your measurements before ordering. A 10cm error across a room is easy to make and can be the difference between one pack and two.

Order everything at once

Shade varies slightly between production batches. Ordering the full quantity in one go means every pack comes from the same run. This is the single most common cause of a visible mismatch.

Do not forget the trims

The calculator covers the floor itself. You will also need beading or scotia to cover the expansion gap around the edges, and threshold, ramp or end profiles for each doorway. Measure the perimeter of the room for beading, and count your doorways for profiles.

Underlay

Most floating floors need underlay beneath them, unless it is already attached to the boards. It is sold by the roll rather than the pack, so work from your floor area rather than the rounded-up figure.

Flooring calculator: frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much flooring I need?

Multiply the length and width of the room in metres to get the floor area, add a waste allowance for cuts, then divide by the coverage of one pack and round up. The calculator on each product page does all of this for you.

How much extra flooring should I order for waste?

We apply 10% for plank, laminate and LVT floors, and 15% for herringbone, chevron and Versailles, because angled cuts produce more offcuts.

Why do I get more flooring than I asked for?

Flooring is supplied in full packs, so the quantity is rounded up to the next whole pack. The calculator shows the exact coverage you will receive before you order.

What if my room is not a simple rectangle?

Split it into rectangles and enter each one separately. The calculator adds them together and works out the total from the combined area.

Should I include doorways and areas under radiators?

Yes. Measure the full floor area, including doorways and under radiators, since the floor runs into those spaces.

Can I order more later if I run short?

You can, but we would not recommend relying on it. Shade varies between production batches, so a later order may not match. Order the full quantity in one go.

Does the calculator include underlay and trims?

No. It covers the floor only. Underlay is worked out from your floor area, beading from the room perimeter, and profiles from the number of doorways.