Flooring Calculator

Total area = length × width (or sum the parts of an irregular room). Multiply by 1 + (waste % ÷ 100), then divide by your product's coverage per box and round up. For a 12 ft × 14 ft (3.7 m × 4.3 m) bedroom in laminate (22 sq ft / 2.0 m² per box, 10% waste): 168 × 1.10 = 184.8 sq ft (17.2 m²) ÷ 22 sq ft per box = 8.4 → 9 boxes. The calculator above handles the math automatically.

Laminate is a fiberboard core with a printed wood-look top layer — cheap and durable but not waterproof. Vinyl plank (LVP) is 100% synthetic, fully waterproof, and the dominant choice for kitchens, baths, and basements. Solid hardwood is a single piece of milled wood (usually 3/4″ / 19 mm thick) — premium look and re-sandable, but humidity-sensitive. Engineered hardwood has a real wood veneer over a plywood core — looks identical to solid but resists humidity better and works over concrete subfloors.

Industry rule of thumb: 10% for laminate and LVP installed straight, 12% for engineered hardwood, 15% for solid hardwood (grain matching adds cuts). Bump up to 15-20% for diagonal patterns or rooms with many corners and obstacles. First-time DIY installers should add 15% across the board — cuts go wrong. The calculator pre-fills the standard percentage based on the material you pick.

It depends on the product and subfloor. Laminate over concrete needs a 6-mil moisture barrier underlayment (always). Laminate over plywood needs a foam or felt underlayment for sound dampening. Most LVP has integrated underlayment built in — check the box; if it does, skip a separate roll. Solid hardwood nailed over plywood doesn't need underlayment; floating engineered hardwood does. The calculator's underlayment toggle adds rolls when you turn it on; keep it off when the product has integrated underlayment.

Most boxes hold ~20-25 sq ft (1.9-2.3 m²) of finished flooring. Laminate and solid hardwood typically come in 22 sq ft (2.0 m²) boxes. LVP is slightly bigger at 24 sq ft (2.2 m²). Engineered hardwood is around 25 sq ft (2.3 m²). These are box sizes for retail display and homeowner-friendly handling — pro contractors order pallets. Always check the actual box label for vendor-specific coverage; this calculator uses the industry midpoint as the default but lets you override.

Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood, usually 3/4″ (19 mm) thick. Engineered hardwood has a 1-3 mm hardwood veneer bonded to a 5-7 ply plywood core, total thickness 3/8-1/2″ (10-13 mm). Solid hardwood swells and shrinks with humidity (must acclimate 5-7 days before install) and can only go over plywood subfloor. Engineered hardwood is dimensionally stable, can go over concrete, and can float (click-lock) or glue down. Both look identical once installed; the difference is mostly under the hood.

Per 100 sq ft (9.3 m²) of finished install: laminate ~2-3 hours DIY, LVP ~2 hours (click-lock is fast), solid hardwood ~4-5 hours (nailing each board takes time), engineered hardwood ~3 hours. Add prep time: subfloor leveling 1-2 hours, removing old flooring 2-3 hours, baseboard removal 1 hour, doors trimmed 30 min each. Pro installers cut these times by half but charge $2-5 per sq ft labor.

Vinyl plank (LVP) is the toughest — fully waterproof, scratch-resistant top wear layer, and dimensionally stable across humidity ranges. Solid hardwood is durable but susceptible to water damage and surface scratches (though it can be re-sanded 4-6 times over its life). Laminate is the least durable — moisture is its enemy, and it can't be refinished. For high-traffic areas with kids and pets, LVP is the winner; for a 50-year heirloom floor, solid hardwood wins.

Click-lock laminate, LVP, and engineered hardwood are designed for DIY — most homeowners can install a 200 sq ft (18.6 m²) room in a weekend with basic tools (saw, tape measure, spacers, tapping block). Solid hardwood requires a pneumatic floor nailer (rentable for $40/day) and is harder for first-timers. Glue-down installs are messier and less DIY-friendly. Always read the manufacturer's install guide first — warranty often depends on following it.

Yes — pick Metric in the unit selector at the top of the calculator and inputs switch to meters and m². Material defaults convert automatically: laminate / hardwood ≈ 2.0 m² per box, LVP ≈ 2.2 m², engineered ≈ 2.3 m². Underlayment roll defaults to ≈ 9.3 m² (the metric equivalent of the 100 sq ft standard residential roll). Your unit choice persists across pages and tabs via localStorage.