What you need
A tape measure, a pencil and paper, and a rough sketch of the floor plan. A laser measure is quicker for large rooms but not necessary.
Measuring a rectangular room
- Measure the length of the room from wall to wall at its longest point.
- Measure the width at its widest point.
- Multiply the two to get the area.
- Round each measurement up to the next half foot or 10 cm. The small extra goes into your waste margin.
Measure wall to wall, not baseboard to baseboard, if you are removing the baseboards.
Measuring L-shaped and irregular rooms
Split the floor plan into rectangles that do not overlap. Measure each one, work out each area, and add them together.
| Section | Size | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Main room | 16 × 12 ft | 192 sq ft |
| Dining nook | 8 × 6 ft | 48 sq ft |
| Total | 240 sq ft |
Enter the total area in the flooring calculator as length with a width of 1, or calculate each part and add the box counts.
Do not forget
- Closets and alcoves that get the same floor.
- Doorways where the new floor ends under the door, usually at the middle of the threshold.
- Hallways that connect rooms, if you want the floor to run through without transitions.
- Under appliances you will move, such as a fridge or freestanding range.
Stairs
Stairs are measured per step: the tread depth × width plus the riser height × width, times the number of steps. Stair nosings are usually sold separately by length. Many installers order stair materials as a separate item.
From square feet to boxes
Add a waste allowance, typically 10 percent, then divide by the coverage printed on the box and round up. Carpet in the US and Canada is often priced by the square yard: divide square feet by 9.
Perimeter for trim
Add the lengths of all walls, then subtract the width of door openings. That is the length of baseboard, skirting or quarter-round you need. Add about 10 percent for corner cuts.
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure in inches or feet?
Measure in feet and inches, then convert inches to decimal feet (6 in = 0.5 ft) before multiplying.
Do I measure under kitchen cabinets?
Floating floors usually stop at the cabinet base, so you do not need to include it. Check your installation instructions.
How much extra flooring should I order?
10 percent is standard. Use 5 to 7 percent for simple rooms with click vinyl and 15 percent for diagonal layouts or rooms with many corners.
Do the math for your own project.
Open the flooring calculator