How Much Flooring Do I Need? Free Calculator + Buying Guide

Staring at an empty room wondering how many boxes of flooring to buy? You're not alone. Many Spokane homeowners buy too much or too little flooring on their first try.

This guide shows you exactly how to calculate flooring—plus when to ask your local flooring store for help with tricky rooms. We'll cover the simple math, share a quick formula, explain waste factors, and show you what to do with odd-shaped spaces. By the end, you'll know your square footage and feel ready to shop.

How Much Flooring Do I Need for a 12x12 Room?

A 12x12 room needs 144 square feet of flooring. Multiply length times width (12 × 12 = 144). Add 10% extra for waste and cuts. That brings your total to about 158 square feet. Buy one extra box to be safe. For odd-shaped rooms or large projects, a flooring store can measure for free.

How to Measure a Room for Flooring (Step-by-Step)

Grab a tape measure and a notepad before you start. You only need a few minutes to get your numbers.

1. Measure the length of your room in feet.
2. Measure the width of your room in feet.
3. Multiply length times width to get square footage.
4. Round up to the nearest whole number, not down.

Don't forget closets and small alcoves. We see homeowners skip these areas all the time. Those extra square feet add up fast.

Write down each measurement as you go. This keeps you from guessing later at the store.

The Simple Flooring Calculator Formula

The math is simple once you know the formula. Length times width equals square feet.

Formula: L × W = Square Feet

Here's an example. A room that is 12 feet long and 15 feet wide needs 180 square feet of flooring (12 × 15 = 180).

If your tape measure shows inches, divide by 12 to convert to feet. A room that is 144 inches long is 12 feet (144 ÷ 12 = 12).

Common Room Sizes at a Glance

10 × 10 → 100 sq ft

10 × 12 → 120 sq ft

12 × 12 → 144 sq ft

12 × 15 → 180 sq ft

15 × 15 → 225 sq ft

15 × 20 → 300 sq ft

Keep this list handy when you shop. It helps you compare your room to standard sizes quickly.

How Much Extra Flooring Should You Buy?

Always buy more flooring than your exact square footage. Cuts, mistakes, and odd angles eat up material fast.

• Add 10% for standard straight-lay installs.
• Add 15% for diagonal or patterned layouts like herringbone.
• Add more if your room has many corners or angles.

These waste percentages align with industry standards recommended by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), the leading authority on wood flooring installation practices.

Buy your extra flooring from the same dye lot. Dye lots can vary slightly in color. Matching later is tricky if your original batch sells out.

One of our customers ran two boxes short on a herringbone install. The replacement boxes looked just a shade off. Rounding up saves you that headache.

Not sure how much overage you need? Our team can help. Browse our wood and laminate flooring options.

Measuring Odd-Shaped Rooms

L-shaped rooms and angled walls look tricky. But there's a simple fix.

Break the room into smaller rectangles. Measure each section on its own. Then add the totals together.

• Sketch a rough floor plan on paper.
• Draw lines to divide odd shapes into boxes.
• Measure the length and width of each box.
• Multiply each box (L × W) and write down the number.
• Add all the numbers for your total square footage.

This method works for closets, hallways, and rooms with bump-outs. Stay organized and you won't miss a spot.

When in doubt, ask a flooring store for a free measure. A second set of eyes catches what you might overlook.

Try Our Flooring Visualizer Before You Buy

Our flooring visualizer takes out the guesswork. You can see your space changed right away.

Upload a photo of your room. Pick a product from our collection. Watch what happens instantly. The realistic picture shows you exactly how different floors will look in your actual space.

Step 1: Upload your photo. | Step 2: Pick a product. | Step 3: See the change right away!

Use the visualizer to pick your favorites online. Then ask for those specific samples to test in person. This gives you both online ease and hands-on proof.

Try the Pro Floors and Blinds Flooring Visualizer today!

When to Get Help From a Flooring Store

Sometimes the easiest path is letting a pro handle the math. Free in-home measurements save you time and stress.

• Staff can calculate waste based on your specific flooring type.
• Pros spot subfloor issues you might miss on your own.
• You get an accurate quote without second-guessing your numbers.
• Some local stores offer competitive pricing or match big-box prices—ask about their policy.

At Profloors & Blinds, our team measures, calculates, and emails your quote the same day. We handle the details so you can focus on picking the floor you love.

Ready to start your project? Stop by or schedule a measure today.