Flooring calculator

The calculator needs JavaScript. The worked example, formula and figures below show exactly how it works, so you can do the sum yourself. A guide, not advice. Check your supplier's or maker's figures before ordering.

Short answer

Work out how many packs of flooring, rolls of underlay and lengths of trim to buy. Enter your measurements below; every figure we start from is shown and you can change it.

Worked example

Worked example inputs
You enterValue
RoomsRoom: rectangle 5 m × 3 m
Floor typeLaminate
LayoutStraight
Waste allowance5%
Coverage per pack2.22 m²
Add a spare pack for future repairsNo
Underlay coverage per roll15 m²

Order: 8 packs

Worked example results
ResultValue
Packs8
Floor needed (with waste)15.75 m²
Ordered17.76 m²
Left over2.01 m²
Underlay rolls2
Room area15 m²
Show the working
  1. Area: Room 15 m² = 15 m²
  2. Floor needed: 15 × 1.05 (5% waste) = 15.75 m²
  3. Packs: 15.75 ÷ 2.22 m² = 7.09, rounded up to 8; 17.76 m² ordered, 2.01 m² left over
  4. Underlay: 15.75 ÷ 15 m² per roll, rounded up = 2 rolls

How it works

  1. Floor needed (m²) = area × (1 + waste)
  2. Packs = floor needed ÷ coverage per pack, rounded up; left over = packs × coverage − floor needed
  3. Underlay rolls = area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage per roll, rounded up
  4. Trims = (perimeter − doorways) × (1 + waste) ÷ trim length, rounded up

Order a sample first: colour and finish vary between screens and batches.

Our default (adjustable)

These are typical planning figures and our own allowances, not facts about your product. Change any of them in the calculator to match your bag, pack or tin.

FigureOur default (adjustable)KindSource
Waste allowance: Straight5 %Our assumption
Not yet checked against the source
Our choice: change it to suit your job
Research cites 5–10%.
Waste allowance: Herringbone or diagonal10 %Our assumption
Not yet checked against the source
Our choice: change it to suit your job
Herringbone or diagonal lay.
Coverage per packEnter from the bag, pack or tinCommon UK size
Not yet checked against the source
From your product
Enter from the product page or box.
Underlay coverage per rollEnter from the bag, pack or tinCommon UK size
Not yet checked against the source
From your product
Enter from the underlay roll.
Length of one trimEnter from the bag, pack or tinCommon UK size
Not yet checked against the source
From your product
Enter the length of one trim.

FAQs

Guides

  • How many packs of laminate do I need?

    Measure your room, including L-shapes and bays, read the pack size, add layout waste and order a sample first.

  • Laminate vs LVT vs engineered wood

    How laminate, LVT and engineered wood are built, which rooms makers suggest for each, how they're fitted and how much waste to allow.

  • Measuring a room for flooring

    The tools you need and the steps to measure a room for flooring, including doorways and the trims around the edge.

  • Underlay explained

    The main types of flooring underlay, how roll sizes work, which floor needs what (per the maker) and how much to buy.