How to calculate flooring
total area = length × width (per room)
order = total area × (1 + waste %)
Measure each room separately in feet and add them together. For L-shaped rooms, divide into two rectangles and sum. Convert carpet totals to square yards by dividing by 9. Then add a waste allowance for offcuts; the usual figures are rules of thumb, listed in the waste guide below. Need help measuring? Use our Square Footage Calculator first.
Flooring materials comparison
| Material | Best for |
|---|---|
| Carpet | Bedrooms, family rooms |
| Hardwood | Living, dining, hallways |
| Laminate | Budget DIY installs |
| Vinyl / LVP | Kitchens, baths, basements |
| Ceramic tile | Bathrooms, laundry rooms |
| Porcelain tile | High-traffic, wet areas |
| Natural stone | Entryways, upscale kitchens |
This page doesn't publish prices or lifespans: neither has an official source, and both vary by product and region. Use quotes in the Cost tab.
Waste factor guide
Why you need extra: cuts along walls, around closets, at doorways; installation mistakes; future repairs; and pattern/color matching. The percentages below are the trade rules of thumb this calculator starts from, not a standard; the manufacturer's or installer's advice comes first.
- Vinyl / LVP: 7% (snap-lock, easy to cut precisely)
- Laminate, hardwood, carpet: 10%
- Ceramic and porcelain tile: 15%
- Natural stone: 20% (brittle, uneven edges)
- Diagonal installs: add 5% to base waste
- Complex layouts (lots of closets, angles): add 5%
Always keep at least one full box/bundle extra for future repairs, dye lots and batch numbers change between production runs.
Carpet vs hardwood vs laminate vs tile
Carpet
- Soft, warm, quiet
- Cheap to install
- Wears out sooner than hard floors
- Traps allergens; hard to clean stains
Hardwood
- Adds home value
- Solid boards can be refinished
- Long-lived with care
- Not for wet areas; susceptible to scratches
Laminate / Vinyl
- Budget-friendly, DIY-able
- LVP is waterproof
- Decent wood-look
- Can't refinish; some bulge in moisture
Tile
- Waterproof, hypoallergenic
- Very durable
- Cold and hard underfoot
- Grout requires maintenance
How flooring is sold
Sizes below are typical, not a standard. The width of the roll and the coverage printed on the box or label are what count.
- Carpet, by the square yard, commonly in 12-ft wide rolls. Rooms wider than the roll need seams.
- Hardwood & laminate, by square foot or by the box; the calculator starts at 22 sq ft a box, so change it to the figure on yours. Always buy full boxes.
- Vinyl / LVP, by square foot (planks) or by linear foot off a sheet roll.
- Ceramic & porcelain tile, by the piece or square foot. The calculator counts tile boxes at about 10 sq ft each; box sizes vary, so check the label.
- Natural stone, by the piece, often individually priced due to size variation.
Installation cost guide
DIY-friendly
- Click-lock laminate
- Click-lock LVP
- Peel-and-stick vinyl
- Carpet tiles
Saves the labor line in the Cost tab
Hire a pro
- Hardwood (nail-down or glue)
- Sheet carpet (needs stretching)
- Ceramic/porcelain tile
- Natural stone
Complex cuts, subfloor prep, seams
Factors that raise labor costs: a damaged subfloor that needs repair, second-floor or tight access, moving furniture and appliances, removal of old flooring, and diagonal or herringbone patterns. Ask for each as a separate line on the quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much flooring I need?
Multiply each room's length by its width in feet, add the rooms together, then add an allowance for offcuts. A 12 by 14 foot bedroom is 168 sq ft; with a 10% allowance you would order 184.8 sq ft. For carpet, divide by 9 to get square yards, the unit it is usually priced in.
How much extra flooring should I buy for waste?
There is no official figure; installers use rules of thumb. The ones this calculator starts from: carpet 10%, hardwood 10%, laminate 10%, vinyl and LVP 7%, ceramic tile 15%, porcelain tile 15%, natural stone 20%, plus about 5% more for a diagonal lay and 5% more for a room with many corners. Follow the manufacturer's or installer's advice where it differs. A spare box kept back is handy for repairs, since a later batch may not match.
How do I convert square feet to square yards for carpet?
One square yard is 9 square feet (3 ft × 3 ft), so divide by 9: a 180 sq ft room is 20 square yards. Broadloom commonly comes 12 feet wide, so a room wider than that needs a seam and an extra strip, and the offcut from that strip adds to what you pay for. Let the installer plan the layout before you order.
How much does it cost to install flooring?
Prices vary too much by region, product and the state of the subfloor to quote a fair national figure, so this page doesn't publish one. Get written quotes, then put the material price and the labor price per square foot into the Cost tab: it adds your waste allowance to the material, and optional underlayment and removal at the rates you enter.
What is the cheapest flooring option?
It depends on local prices and on what the room needs, so compare real quotes rather than national averages. Price per square foot is only part of it: a floor that has to be replaced sooner, or that needs a new subfloor or extra underlayment, can cost more overall. The Cost tab lets you run each quote through the same room so the totals are comparable.
How many tiles do I need for a room?
Add the waste allowance to the floor area, then divide by the area of one tile and round up. For 200 sq ft with 15% waste you need 230 sq ft: that is 230 tiles at 12 × 12 in (1 sq ft each), 103 at 18 × 18 in (2.25 sq ft) and 58 at 24 × 24 in (4 sq ft). Then round up to whole boxes, using the coverage printed on the box.
Is it cheaper to install flooring myself?
Often, if the material is DIY-friendly: click-lock laminate and vinyl and peel-and-stick tiles need few special tools. Hardwood, tile and stone take more skill, and a mistake can cost more than the labor you saved. Count tool hire and your own time, and try a small room first if you haven't laid floors before. Untick the labor box in the Cost tab to see the material-only figure.
How long does hardwood flooring last?
A long time with care, partly because solid boards can be sanded and refinished several times. Engineered boards can be refinished only as often as their top wear layer allows, so check its thickness with the maker. Sweeping grit away, wiping up water and using rugs in busy areas all slow the wear.
What type of flooring is best for kitchens?
Look for something that shrugs off water and dropped pans. Luxury vinyl plank is waterproof and softer underfoot; porcelain tile is very hard-wearing and waterproof; engineered hardwood can work if it is well sealed. Solid hardwood and many laminates are riskier near sinks and dishwashers, and carpet is a poor fit. Check each product's water rating.
How do I calculate flooring for an L-shaped room?
Split the L into two rectangles, work out each and add them. A 10 × 12 main area plus a 6 × 8 extension is 120 + 48 = 168 sq ft. Then add the waste allowance, a little more for a diagonal lay because angled cuts leave more offcuts. The calculator's L-shape tab does this for you; for more complicated rooms use Multi-room and enter each rectangle.