Hardwood, laminate, and vinyl plank flooring are all sold by the box, but the box coverage varies by brand. This calculator figures out how many boxes you need based on your room size and the plank dimensions, with waste built in for cuts at walls and doorways.
Room Dimensions
ft
ft
Plank Dimensions
in
in
%
Room Dimensions
Scenario: You're installing laminate in a 12 ft x 14 ft living room. Planks are 48 x 7 inches and you're using 10% waste.
Result: Room area: 168 sq ft. Each plank covers 2.33 sq ft, so you need 168 / 2.33 x 1.10 = 80 planks (with waste). At 20 sq ft per box: 168 x 1.10 / 20 = 10 boxes.
Total Square Footage
Scenario: You already measured several rooms totaling 250 sq ft. Same 48 x 7 inch planks with 10% waste.
Result: Each plank covers 2.33 sq ft, so you need 250 / 2.33 x 1.10 = 118 planks. At 20 sq ft per box: 250 x 1.10 / 20 = 14 boxes.
It depends on the plank size and how many come per box. For typical laminate with 20 sq ft per box and 10% waste, you'd need 200 x 1.10 / 20 = 11 boxes.
Use 10% for rectangular rooms. If you're installing at a 45-degree angle or the room has lots of alcoves, closets, or odd angles, increase to 15%. First-time installers should also lean toward 15%.
Buy one extra box beyond what the calculator says. If a plank gets scratched or water-damaged a year from now, you'll have a matching replacement on hand. Flooring colors shift between production runs, so you can't count on getting an exact match later.
Measure the closet separately and add its area to your room total. If the closet is 3 x 5 ft, add 15 sq ft to your room area. You can also use the square footage input mode and enter the combined total.
Want to learn more before you start your project?
Read the full guide →
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