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🏠 Flooring Calculator

Calculate materials for tile, hardwood, laminate, carpet, and LVP flooring.

Quick Formula​

Materials Needed = Floor Area × Waste Factor

Tile Flooring​

Coverage Calculation​

Tiles Needed = Floor Area (SF) ÷ Tile Area (SF) × Waste Factor

Tile Sizes & Coverage​

Tile SizeArea per TileTiles per SF
4" × 4"0.11 SF9 tiles
6" × 6"0.25 SF4 tiles
12" × 12"1.0 SF1 tile
12" × 24"2.0 SF0.5 tiles
18" × 18"2.25 SF0.44 tiles
24" × 24"4.0 SF0.25 tiles

Tiles per Box (Common)​

Tile SizeTiles/BoxSF/Box
12" × 12"10-1510-15 SF
12" × 24"6-812-16 SF
18" × 18"4-69-13.5 SF
24" × 24"3-412-16 SF

Tile Waste Factors​

LayoutWaste Factor
Straight lay (simple room)10%
Straight lay (complex room)15%
Diagonal lay15-20%
Herringbone/pattern20-25%

Grout & Mortar​

MaterialCoverage
Thinset mortar60-80 SF per 50 lb bag
Grout (sanded)8-25 SF per lb (depends on tile/joint size)
Grout (unsanded)20-40 SF per lb

Grout calculator:

Grout (lbs) = (Tile Length + Width) × Joint Width × Joint Depth × Area
              ÷ (Tile Length × Tile Width) × 1.86

Hardwood Flooring​

Board Foot Coverage​

Hardwood is often sold by the square foot or carton.

Plank WidthSF per LF
2-1/4"0.1875 SF
3"0.25 SF
4"0.333 SF
5"0.417 SF
6"0.5 SF
7"0.583 SF

Carton Coverage (Typical)​

WidthSF per CartonPlanks/Carton
3"20-25 SF15-20
5"20-25 SF10-15
7"20-25 SF8-12

Hardwood Waste Factors​

SituationWaste Factor
Simple rectangular room5-7%
Average room10%
Complex layout/angles15%
Diagonal installation15-20%
Herringbone/parquet20-25%

Additional Materials​

ItemAmount
UnderlaymentSame as floor SF
Vapor barrierSame as floor SF + 10% overlap
Flooring nails1 lb per 50 SF (nail-down)
AdhesivePer manufacturer spec

Laminate/LVP Flooring​

Plank Coverage​

Plank SizeSF per Plank
5" × 36"1.25 SF
6" × 36"1.5 SF
7" × 48"2.33 SF
8" × 48"2.67 SF
9" × 60"3.75 SF

Carton Coverage​

Product TypeSF per Carton (Typical)
Laminate18-25 SF
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)18-24 SF
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)20-30 SF

Waste Factors​

InstallationWaste Factor
Straight, simple room5-10%
Average room10%
Complex room/hallways15%
First-time installer15%

Underlayment Types​

TypeUseCoverage
Foam (2-3mm)Basic, budgetRoll covers 100-200 SF
CorkSound reductionRoll covers 100-200 SF
RubberPremium soundRoll covers 100-200 SF
Built-in padAttached to plankNone needed

Carpet​

Carpet Measurement​

Carpet is sold by square yard (9 SF) and comes in standard widths.

Standard Roll Widths​

WidthNotes
12 feetMost common
15 feetReduces seams in larger rooms
13'6"Some manufacturers

Conversion​

Square Yards = Square Feet ÷ 9

Carpet Waste Factors​

SituationWaste Factor
Simple rectangle (12' wide or less)5-10%
Multiple seams needed15-20%
Stairs15-20%
Pattern match20-25%

Additional Materials​

ItemAmount
Carpet padSame SF as carpet
Tack stripPerimeter LF (walls + doorways)
Seam tapeLF of seams
Transition stripsCount doorways

Stair Carpet​

Stair TypeCarpet Needed
Standard stair (36" wide)3-4 SF per step
Waterfall styleTread + Riser + 2"
Cap & band styleTread + 6" + 2 pieces

Typical stair run: 13 steps = 40-52 SF

Quick Reference Tables​

Room Size Quick Calculator​

Room SizeSquare FeetTile (10% waste)Hardwood (10% waste)Carpet (SY)
10' × 10'100 SF110 SF110 SF12.2 SY
10' × 12'120 SF132 SF132 SF14.7 SY
12' × 12'144 SF158 SF158 SF17.6 SY
12' × 14'168 SF185 SF185 SF20.5 SY
14' × 16'224 SF246 SF246 SF27.4 SY
15' × 20'300 SF330 SF330 SF36.7 SY

Cost Estimating (Material Only)​

Flooring TypePrice Range (per SF)
Ceramic tile$0.50-$5.00
Porcelain tile$3.00-$10.00
Natural stone$5.00-$25.00
Laminate$1.00-$5.00
Luxury Vinyl Plank$2.00-$7.00
Engineered hardwood$3.00-$12.00
Solid hardwood$5.00-$15.00
Carpet (per SY)$15-$80

Prices vary by region and quality

Transition Strips​

When Needed​

  • Doorways between rooms
  • Change of flooring material
  • Change of direction
  • Height differences

Types​

TypeUse
T-moldingSame height floors
ReducerFloor to lower surface
Stair noseTop of stairs
ThresholdExterior doors
End capEnding at wall/fireplace

Subfloor Requirements​

Acceptable Subfloors​

Flooring TypeConcretePlywoodOSBExisting Floor
Ceramic tile✅✅*❌Varies
Hardwood❌**✅✅❌
Laminate✅✅✅✅
LVP✅✅✅✅
Carpet✅✅✅❌

*With cement board underlayment **With moisture barrier

Flatness Requirements​

Flooring TypeMax Variation
Tile1/8" in 10'
Hardwood3/16" in 10'
Laminate/LVP3/16" in 10'
Carpet1/4" in 10'

Sample Project Estimate​

12' × 14' bedroom (168 SF) with 12×24 tile:

ItemCalculationQuantity
Floor area12 × 14168 SF
With 15% waste168 × 1.15193 SF
Tiles needed193 ÷ 2 SF/tile97 tiles
Boxes (8/box)97 ÷ 813 boxes
Thinset193 ÷ 70 SF/bag3 bags
Grout193 SF estimate20 lbs

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

  1. Underestimating waste — Diagonal cuts, patterns, and room complexity add up
  2. Forgetting transitions — Budget for every doorway
  3. Ignoring subfloor prep — Leveling compound adds cost
  4. Not buying extra — Keep 1-2 boxes for future repairs
  5. Pattern matching — Patterned tile/carpet needs more material
Save Extra Material

Keep at least 5% of flooring stored for future repairs. Write the purchase date and product info on the box.