Flooring calculator
Enter the room area in m², the coverage of one pack in m² (printed on the box) and a wastage allowance to see how many packs to buy.
Estimates only. Check the manufacturer's coverage rates.
How this is calculated
Laminate, vinyl and engineered flooring are sold in packs, and each pack states how many square metres it covers. The calculator adds a wastage allowance to the room area, divides by the pack coverage and rounds up to whole packs.
The formula is: packs = room area x (1 + wastage / 100) / pack coverage, rounded up. It also shows the area those packs cover and the surplus over the room size.
For example, an 18.5 m² room with 10% wastage needs 20.35 m². With packs of 2.2 m², that is 9.25 packs, so you buy 10 packs covering 22 m², leaving 3.5 m² over the room area.
Wastage covers offcuts at the ends of rows and cutting around door frames and pipes. 10% is a common allowance for straight lay, and many fitters allow more, around 15%, for diagonal or herringbone layouts. To measure a room, multiply length by width, splitting L-shaped rooms into rectangles and adding them together. Buy all your packs from one batch so the colour matches.
- 10% is a common allowance for straight lay; many fitters allow around 15% for diagonal or herringbone layouts.
- Buy all packs from one batch.
Frequently asked questions
How much wastage should I allow for flooring?
10% is a common allowance for straight lay. Many fitters allow around 15% for diagonal or herringbone layouts.
Where do I find the pack coverage?
It is printed on the box or product listing in m² per pack.
Why buy from one batch?
Colours can vary between batches, so buying everything from one batch keeps the floor consistent.