4.5 m × 3.2 m room, 10% waste
Input Room 4.5 m × 3.2 m, waste 10%, 2.2 m² per box.
Result 14.4 m² floor, 15.84 m² with waste, so 8 boxes and 15.4 m of skirting.
Flooring Calculator
Home & RenovationGet floor area, waste allowance, the number of boxes to buy and the skirting length for any room.
Your inputs
Result
Boxes to buy
—
- Floor area — m²
- Area with waste — m²
- Skirting length — m
Change any input and the result updates instantly.
Formula and rules
- Floor area = room length × room width
- Area with waste = floor area × (1 + waste %)
- Boxes = area with waste ÷ coverage per box, rounded up
- Skirting length = 2 × (room length + room width), before deducting doorways
- One extra box is worth keeping for future repairs and dye-lot matching
Worked examples
12 ft × 10 ft room, 5% waste
Input Room 12 ft × 10 ft, waste 5%, 23.7 ft² per box.
Result 120 ft² floor, 126 ft² with waste, so 6 boxes and 44 ft of skirting.
FAQ
How much waste should I allow for flooring?
5–7% for a straight lay in a simple rectangular room, 10% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, and up to 15% for small planks or rooms with many alcoves.
Do I count the area under kitchen units?
Only if the flooring runs underneath. Most fitters stop at the plinth, so deduct the cabinet footprint but keep the flooring running into doorways.
Why buy an extra box?
Flooring is made in dye lots. A spare box from the same batch lets you replace a damaged plank years later without a visible patch.
Disclaimer: Results follow the formula shown on this page and are for reference only. Real-world quantities vary with materials, technique and conditions, so allow a margin before ordering.