Question 1

How do I calculate how much flooring I need?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the room length by the width to get square footage, then add a waste factor. For LVP or laminate in a straight layout, add 7–8%. For diagonal or pattern layouts, add 12–15%. Divide the total by the coverage per box to get your box count.

Question 2

How much extra flooring should I order for waste?

Accepted Answer

For straight installations, add 7–10% depending on the material. Diagonal and herringbone patterns need 12–15% extra because of the additional cuts at the edges. Always order from the same dye lot — a partial reorder later may not match.

Question 3

How many boxes of LVP do I need for a 200 sq ft room?

Accepted Answer

With 7% waste, you need 214 sq ft of material. If each box covers 20 sq ft, that's 11 boxes (⌈214 ÷ 20⌉ = 11). Always round up — never down.

Question 4

How is carpet measured — sq ft or sq yd?

Accepted Answer

Carpet is typically sold by the square yard (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft). Measure your room in square feet, add 10% waste, then divide by 9 to get square yards. This calculator handles that conversion automatically.

Flooring calculator