Planning a flooring upgrade? Whether you're remodeling a cozy bedroom or redoing your entire home, one question always comes up:
"How much flooring do I need for this room?"
The answer depends not just on square footage — but on the type of room, flooring material, layout complexity, and waste percentage. Ordering too little means frustrating delays. Ordering too much means wasted money.
In this guide, we break down flooring estimates room by room, with typical sizes, waste factors, and how many boxes of flooring you'll likely need — plus a free Flooring Calculator to help you skip the math.
What You'll Learn
Want accurate estimates for your specific rooms? Use our Flooring Calculator for precise calculations.
Before You Start: How to Estimate Flooring Needs
No matter the room, the process is the same:
- Measure the length × width of your room
- Multiply to get total square footage (or m²)
- Add waste — generally:
- 5% for simple rooms
- 10% for average rooms with cuts or corners
- 15% for diagonal or custom layouts
Check your flooring product's box coverage (usually 18–25 sq ft per box)
Use our Flooring Calculator to do this instantly.
Bedroom Flooring Estimate
Typical Size: 10×12 ft to 12×14 ft
Average Floor Area: ~120 to 168 sq ft
Recommended Waste: 10%
Total Estimate: 120 sq ft × 1.10 = 132 sq ft total
If your flooring comes in boxes that cover 22 sq ft:
Box Estimate: 132 ÷ 22 = 6 boxes
Kitchen Flooring Estimate
Typical Size: 10×15 ft to 12×18 ft
Average Floor Area: 150–216 sq ft
Recommended Waste: 10–15% (due to cabinets, appliances & tight spaces)
Total Estimate: 180 sq ft × 1.15 = 207 sq ft total
Box coverage = 20 sq ft
Box Estimate: 207 ÷ 20 = 11 boxes
Bathroom Flooring Estimate
Typical Size: 5×8 ft or 6×9 ft
Average Floor Area: 40–54 sq ft
Recommended Waste: 15% (tight layouts, cuts, plumbing)
Total Estimate: 50 sq ft × 1.15 = 57.5 sq ft
Box coverage = 18 sq ft
Box Estimate: 57.5 ÷ 18 = 4 boxes (round up)
Hallway Flooring Estimate
Typical Size: 3×10 ft to 3×20 ft
Average Floor Area: 30–60 sq ft
Recommended Waste: 10–15%
Total Estimate: 50 sq ft × 1.10 = 55 sq ft
Box coverage = 22 sq ft
Box Estimate: 55 ÷ 22 = 3 boxes
Living Room Flooring Estimate
Typical Size: 14×16 ft to 18×20 ft
Average Floor Area: 224–360 sq ft
Recommended Waste: 7–10%
Total Estimate: 300 sq ft × 1.10 = 330 sq ft
Box coverage = 25 sq ft
Box Estimate: 330 ÷ 25 = 14 boxes
Quick Flooring Estimate Chart by Room
Want to skip the math? Try the Flooring Calculator
| Room | Avg Size | Waste % | Final Area | Boxes (22 sq ft/box) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 10×12 ft | 10% | 132 sq ft | 6 boxes |
| Kitchen | 12×15 ft | 15% | 207 sq ft | 10 boxes |
| Bathroom | 6×9 ft | 15% | 62 sq ft | 3–4 boxes |
| Hallway | 3×15 ft | 10% | 50 sq ft | 3 boxes |
| Living Room | 15×18 ft | 10% | 297 sq ft | 14 boxes |
🔗 Want to skip the math? Try the Flooring Calculator
FAQ: Flooring Estimates by Room Type
Q: What’s the best waste percentage for each room?
A:
Bedrooms & living rooms: 7–10%
Kitchens & bathrooms: 10–15%
Diagonal patterns: 15% minimum
Q: Can I calculate in meters or cm?
A: Yes! Our Flooring Calculator supports both metric and imperial units.
Q: How do I handle irregular rooms?
A: Break them into rectangles, calculate each, and add them together.
Q: What if I don’t know my tile or plank coverage per box?
A: Look for sq ft (or m²) coverage on the packaging — or measure tile size (e.g. 12×12 in = 1 sq ft).
Q: Should I buy extra flooring for future repairs?
A: Yes — order 1 extra box to store, especially for wood or tile floors where color batches may vary.
🛠 Estimate Smarter, Buy Smarter
You don’t need to be a math whiz to plan your flooring project — just the right tools. Use our free Flooring Calculator to:
- ✔️ Measure square footage
- ✔️ Add smart waste buffer
- ✔️ Estimate total flooring or boxes
- ✔️ Avoid costly mistakes
🎯 Try the Flooring Calculator now — it’s quick, free, and accurate for every room in your house.
Flooring Calculator
Key Points Covered
- Room-by-room flooring estimates
- Recommended waste percentages
- Average room sizes and box counts
- Tips for each room type
- How to handle closets and nooks
- Calculator for accurate estimates