How much flooring to buy
Multiply room length by width for square footage, add waste for end cuts, then divide by the coverage printed on the box (laminate and vinyl plank boxes commonly hold 15–25 sq ft). Always round up to whole boxes.
Example: 15 × 12 ft = 180 sq ft. Plus 10% = 198 sq ft ÷ 20 sq ft/box = 9.9 → 10 boxes.
Waste factor guide
- Straight lay in a rectangular room: 7–10%
- Diagonal, herringbone or many angles/closets: 15%+
- Hardwood with natural grade variation: 10–15% so you can cull boards
Before you install
Let laminate and wood acclimate in the room per the manufacturer's instructions (often 48 hours), leave the expansion gap specified (typically about 1/4 in) at walls, and check the slab or subfloor flatness tolerance in the install guide. Keep a spare box for repairs.