How Much Flooring Do I Actually Need?
Measuring and estimating can get complicated, but don't worry! We always provide free estimates and measures, but if you're interested in trying to determine how much flooring you might need
beforehand, here are some helpful tips & tools to get you started!
Start with accurate room measurements and think about the type of flooring material(s) you'd
like to install - carpet, sheet vinyl, tile, laminate, hardwood, or luxury vinyl plank flooring. Each product
is measured a bit differently based on a product's size, layout, pattern match, cuts, and waste or extra materials. Measuring carefully helps to estimate the right amount of flooring materials accurately
needed so you can plan your installation with confidence while saving on unnecessary costs & time.
1. What type of flooring are you considering?
Carpeting/Rolled Goods
Vinyl Plank | Tile
Hardwoods | Laminate
Patterns/Repeats/Designs All Products
Rolled Goods are measured by
square feet or square yards.
Length x Width = Total Sq.Ft.
These products are measured by square feet.
Length x Width = Total Sq.Ft.
Custom patterns require detailed measurements & pre-planned layouts.
Carpeting or sheet vinyl is usually measured by the square foot or square yard, which is based on the length and width of your space.
Carpeting typically comes in standard rolls of (12', 16' or 22'
ft. wide), final lengths & widths needed may vary depending on the product selected, the flooring layout and seam placements.
1. Start by measuring the length & width
of the room in feet/inches.
2. Multiply those numbers together to obtain the total square footage.
3. It's typical to add approximately 10% in extra materials, for waste. (Or for patterned designs
it could be around 15-20%, depending on the complexity.) Waste occurs when installing flooring around walls, corners, doorways, or other obstacles.
Vinyl plank, hardwood & laminate products can vary based on plank size width and length, and can also depend on the installation direction, and room shape(s).
Carefully planned layouts ensure the design aligns properly throughout the entire space.
Many patterns repeat in length or direction, which can have an affect on seam placements or cuts, which are also dependent on the shape of each space.
All of these variables can affect the total amount of flooring products needed, so a professional consult-ation and measurements are strongly recommended in order
to provide the most accurate estimate and best finished results.
2. Calculate your Square Footage:
What is Square Footage?
It's the way a house or space is measured. Square footage is the total floor area of livable, finished, cooled or heated space, which is measured from the walls.
Measuring in Square Feet or Square Yards for:
Carpeting/Rolled Goods
Measuring in Square Feet for:
Vinyl Plank | Tile | Hardwoods | Laminate
Measuring in Square
Feet/Square Yards for:
Carpeting/Rolled Goods
Measuring in Square Feet for:
Vinyl Plank | Tile | Hardwoods | Laminate
Main Sheet = 216 sq.ft.
Main Sheet = 18 sq.ft.
Total: 334 sq.ft.*
*(Roll is 12' goods, so more than 334 sq.ft. would need to be ordered, in this specific example)
Area = 210 sq.ft.
Est. Waste 10% = 21 sq.ft.
Total = 231sq.ft.*
*(Product quantities vary per box & manufacturer,
so may need to order additional materials)
3. Other Items to Factor or Consider:
"Life Happens" moments:
Although our floors are durable, we all still have our "Life Happens" moments.Therefore, we highly recommend including a small amount of additional flooring for any occasional household mystery that comes up...
because pets have opinions, children looooove art projects, furniture has sharp edges, plumbing likes to keep things interesting, roofs tend to get bored & start leaking, the water heater decides to have a mental breakdown - as soon as you go on vacation, or we can always count on Florida's annual, “secure the flamingos & why is there a lawn chair in the pool?” season. So, whatever the reason, it's always a good ideal to keep some extra materials handy!
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Items My Project Might Need:
Note!!: materials & supply needs can vary for each project. Items listed below
are for informational purposes only. Our team will advise you on what your project specifically requires.
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Carpeting: flooring transitions/trims, underlayment (pad), possibly tack strip (varies per project). glue for glue-down carpet products or potentially other specialty materials & requirements.
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Tile: thin set/grout, flooring transitions, possibly sub-floor surface prep/floor patch, grout sealant, or other specialty product requirements.
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LVP/Laminate: flooring transitions/trims, underlayment (pad) for Laminate. Glue, typically for commercial LVP products and any other specialty materials & requirements.
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Harwood Flooring: flooring transitions/trims, glue for glue-down hardwood products or potentially other specialty materials & requirements.
Additional Questions:
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Why should I purchase additional flooring materials for my project?
Flooring systems change consistently - for example, lock systems on plank flooring products may be altered by the manufacturers, or no longer available over time. Dye-lots (colors used during the flooring manufacturing process) can change between each production batch for all types of flooring - plank, carpet, tile etc..
- So it's important that your extra flooring materials are purchased at or around the same time to avoid these issues. When you have these extra materials on hand, it makes repairs much easier and typically much faster to work through as well.
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Can I just use my blueprints to pull room dimensions from?
​Yes, you can, however blueprints may vary from the actual build so dimensions can be off. There may also be times when adjustments are made on the construction site and are not reflected or updated in the actual blueprints/construction documents. So it's always best to have professional measurements completed for your project before any products or supplies are officially ordered.
Nope! I don't want to measuring anything -
point me to the nearest cabana instead!
No problem!​
We’re here to make flooring measurements simple and stress-free by offering free measures and estimates at your convenience. We'll be here to get you going in the right direction, every step of the way - from start to finish.
Feel free to give us a call anytime! ​