Enter your room size, subtract any area you will not cover, choose the flooring type and layout, and add the coverage of one pack. You get the packs to buy, the total area and, if you enter a price, the cost.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Flooring calculator works
The room area is length × width, in metres or feet. If you enter an area to leave out (an alcove, hearth or fitted unit), its length × width is subtracted to give the area to cover.
A waste allowance is then added. It is suggested from the flooring type and layout: a base of 5% for carpet and vinyl, 7% for laminate and 10% for boards, plus 5% for a diagonal layout and 10% for herringbone or patterned layouts. You can overwrite the figure.
- Area needed = area to cover × (1 + waste ÷ 100)
- Packs = area needed ÷ coverage per pack, rounded up
- Total you buy = packs × coverage
- Cost = total you buy × price per m²
Coverage per pack comes from the packaging, and for carpet you can enter 1 to count in square metres. The tool does not model roll widths, seams, pattern matching or underlay, and it assumes one simple rectangular room.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements in | Metres |
| Room length | 5 |
| Room width | 4 |
| Area to leave out: length (optional) | 0 |
| Area to leave out: width (optional) | 0 |
| Flooring type | Laminate |
| Layout | Straight lay |
| Waste allowance | 7 % |
| Coverage per pack | 2.2 m² |
| Price per m² (optional) | £15 |
Packs needed: 10 packs
| Room area | 20 m² |
|---|---|
| Area left out | 0 m² |
| Area to cover | 20 m² (215.3 sq ft) |
| With 7% waste | 21.4 m² |
| Packs of 2.2 m² | 10 |
| Total you buy | 22 m² |
Tips and common mistakes
Measure the longest and widest points of the room, including door recesses, and measure twice. Rooms with many corners, pipes or alcoves need more waste than a plain rectangle. Buy all packs at once so the batch and shade match, and keep a spare pack for repairs if you can. Check whether the price you enter is per m² or per pack. Underlay, trims, glue and fitting are extra, so add them separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra flooring should I buy?
A common allowance is 5% to 10% for a straight lay, and 10% to 15% or more for diagonal, herringbone or patterned layouts. The calculator suggests a figure and lets you change it.
Do I include the area under furniture?
Floor you will cover permanently, such as under a sofa, is usually floored too. Leave out only built-in units, hearths or other areas you will not floor.
Does this work for carpet?
Yes for an estimate in square metres. Carpet is cut from a roll of fixed width, so seams and roll width can add waste. Ask the supplier for a measured quote.