Work out how many boxes of laminate, vinyl plank, hardwood or tile to buy, including a waste allowance.
Boxes to buy
What you are buying
Floor area18.58190.9%
Waste allowance1.8589.1%
Area including waste
Area you will buy
Material cost
Show the working
Area + 10% = 220.0 ft²
Boxes = 11.00 → round up to 11
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Formula
Area needed = floor area × (1 + waste % ÷ 100)Boxes = area needed ÷ coverage per box, rounded up
How it works
Flooring is sold by the box, and each box states how many square feet (or square metres) it covers. Add a waste allowance to the room’s area, divide by the box coverage and round up — you cannot buy part of a box.
Waste covers offcuts at walls, pieces that do not match the pattern and the odd damaged plank. About 10% is typical for planks laid parallel to the walls; diagonal layouts, herringbone and large-format tile cut more and need 15–20%.
Buy all boxes from the same production lot so the color matches, and keep one spare box for future repairs. Most stores accept unopened boxes back.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need extra for closets and doorways?
Yes — measure them as part of the floor area. The waste allowance is for cutting losses, not for forgotten spaces.
What about underlayment?
Underlayment is sold by the roll; use the area without the waste allowance and add a little for overlaps.