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Flooring Calculator
Compute flooring area with waste
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Result
Ready to calculate...
What this calculator does
Gives the floor area to buy for boards, laminate, vinyl or carpet, including a waste allowance for cutting.
How to use it
- Enter room width and length.
- Set the waste margin.
- Read the area in square meters to purchase.
Formula
Area m² = Width × Length × (1 + Waste Margin (%) / 100)
Formulas are shown in metric units, exactly as the calculator computes them. Imperial entries are converted to metric first. Waste is applied as a multiplier (1 + waste/100).
Areas are in m² and volumes in m³.
Variables
| Variable | Unit | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Width | m | 4 |
| Length | m | 5 |
| Waste Margin (%) | % | 10 |
Worked example
Using the default values of this calculator (Width = 4 m, Length = 5 m, Waste Margin (%) = 10 %), the calculator returns:
Area m² = 4 × 5 × (1 + 10 / 100)
- Floor Area: 22 m²
Assumptions and limitations
- Assumes a rectangular room; add alcoves separately.
- Pack sizes and plank lengths are not modelled.
Waste, rounding and buying
Flooring is sold in packs that cover a fixed area; divide the result by the pack area and round up. Plank layouts with many end cuts need more waste than large open rooms.
Frequently asked questions
- How much waste should I allow for planks?
- Small rooms and diagonal layouts waste more. The calculator uses the percentage you set.
- Does this include underlay?
- No. Underlay is usually bought for the same area, so you can use the same result.