Enter your room size and the coverage printed on the box to see how many boxes of laminate, vinyl plank or engineered hardwood to buy. The calculator adds a waste allowance for cuts and gives you a shopping list with underlay and spacers.
Your shopping list
How to measure
- Measure the longest length and width of the room, wall to wall.
- For L-shaped rooms, split the floor into two rectangles, work out each one and add the boxes together.
- Check the coverage printed on the box. It varies by brand and plank size.
The formula
Area = length × width Area with waste = area × (1 + waste %) Boxes = area with waste ÷ coverage per box (round up)
Worked example
A 15 × 12 ft room is 180 sq ft. With 10% waste that is 198 sq ft. At 20 sq ft per box you need 198 ÷ 20 = 9.9, so buy 10 boxes. In metric, a 4.5 × 3.6 m room is 16.2 m², or 17.8 m² with waste, which is 10 boxes of 1.86 m².
Tips before you buy
- Leave the boxes in the room for 48 hours before fitting so the boards acclimatise.
- Keep one spare box after the job for future repairs. Colours change between batches.
- Laying boards diagonally or in herringbone needs 15–20% waste instead of 10%.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra flooring should I buy?
Add 10% for straight layouts and 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, or for rooms with many corners and doorways.
Do I include the area under kitchen units?
No. Measure only the floor you will actually cover, but keep the waste allowance.
Do I need underlay?
Most laminate and many vinyl floors need underlay, sold by area. Some planks come with underlay attached; check the box before buying extra.
Results are estimates for planning only. Always check quantities with your supplier before you buy.