Flooring Calculator

Laminate, LVT or wood flooring: area, waste allowance and packs to buy.

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About this calculator

Laminate, engineered wood and LVT are sold in packs covering a stated area, and every room needs a cutting allowance — boards at the end of each row and around doorways rarely go to waste-free use. This calculator sizes the area, applies the waste percentage and tells you how many packs to order.

The formula

Area = Length × Width With waste = Area × (1 + Waste% ÷ 100) Packs = With waste ÷ Pack coverage (round up)

Worked example

A 4.2m × 3.6m room with 10% waste and 2.2 m² packs:

  • Area = 15.12 m², with waste = 16.63 m²
  • Packs = 16.63 ÷ 2.2 = 8 packs

Common mistakes

  • Measuring only once — alcoves, bays and chimney breasts change the true area.
  • Using 10% waste on a diagonal (45°) lay, which needs 15% or more.
  • Returning every spare pack — keep one for future repairs, matching batches later is hard.

Frequently asked questions

8–10% for a simple rectangular room laid straight; 15% for diagonal lays, herringbone or rooms with many recesses.

Usually no for fitted units, but flooring under freestanding appliances is normal — measure to the plinth line.

Underlay is sold in rolls covering ~10 m² — divide the room area (without waste) by the roll coverage.

Assumptions & limitations

Rectangular room; irregular rooms should be split into rectangles and summed before entering.

Sources & verification

  • Manufacturer pack-coverage data — Coverage per pack is printed on the packaging; waste allowances follow common fitting practice (more for diagonal laying and patterned floors)

All sources last accessed 24 July 2026.

Formula last verified: 24 July 2026
Maintained by: Steve Davis, Founder & Editor — see our editorial standards

Spotted an error or an out-of-date figure? Report it — corrections are prioritised over all other work (see our corrections policy).

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