Laminate is sold in cartons, which this calculator calls boxes, and each carton's label gives the square feet it covers. Coverage differs by product and plank size, so the calculator asks for the figure on your own carton rather than a guess. The count is only as good as the number you enter.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the room's length and width in feet, wall to wall. For an L-shaped room, split it into rectangles and add up their room areas.
- Read the coverage printed on your own carton and enter it as the coverage per box. A figure from a different product line gives the wrong count, even when the planks look alike.
- Find the extra for waste under More options. The default is 10 percent for a straight lay, and you can raise it for a room with many corners or doorways.
- Read the Boxes result, which is the number to order, and check the Flooring to buy figure beside it. The box count is already rounded up to whole cartons.
- Add underlayment, transition strips and any stair pieces to your list as separate items, because the carton count does not include them.
Worked examples
Spare bedroom
Size: 12 × 12 ft
- Boxes
- 8
- Flooring to buy
- 158 sq ft
- Room area
- 144 sq ft
Open living room
Size: 16 × 20 ft · Coverage per box: 27.77 sq ft
- Boxes
- 13
- Flooring to buy
- 352 sq ft
- Room area
- 320 sq ft
Long hallway
Size: 16 × 3.5 ft
- Boxes
- 3
- Flooring to buy
- 62 sq ft
- Room area
- 56 sq ft
Home office
Size: 10 × 11 ft · Coverage per box: 18.58 sq ft
- Boxes
- 7
- Flooring to buy
- 121 sq ft
- Room area
- 110 sq ft
Boxes of laminate by room size and carton coverage
| Room | Coverage per box: 18.58 sq ft | Coverage per box: 21.24 sq ft | Coverage per box: 27.77 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 12 ft | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| 14 × 16 ft | 14 | 12 | 9 |
| 18 × 22 ft | 24 | 21 | 16 |
Each cell: Boxes. Inputs not in the table use the calculator's starting values.
How the calculation works
The calculator multiplies the length by the width to get the Room area. It adds the extra for waste to reach the Flooring to buy in square feet, divides that total by the coverage per box, and rounds up. Stores sell whole cartons only, so the rounded Boxes figure is the number to order. Treat it as an estimate, because the shape of the room and the way the planks run change how many you cut.
Keep any leftover planks from the same batch for repairs, since a carton bought later may not match in shade.
What the carton count leaves out
- Underlayment, the pad under the planks, is a separate purchase. Buy enough to cover the same room area.
- Transition strips at doorways, and where laminate meets another floor, are bought separately.
- Stairs need pieces made for the steps, so the room count does not cover them.
- Laminate needs an expansion gap at the walls. Follow the installation instructions for its size, and cover the gap with baseboard or trim.
Mistakes to avoid
- Mixing cartons from different batches. Shade and pattern can change between production runs, so buy the full order together and match any batch number printed on the cartons.
- Ordering only the room area. Cuts at walls, doorways and corners use up planks, so the extra is needed even for a plain rectangle.
- Using the straight-lay extra for a diagonal floor. A diagonal layout cuts more planks, and the calculator has no set figure for it, so raise the extra yourself.
Before you buy laminate
If you have not picked a floor yet, run the same room through the general flooring calculator to compare other flooring types. Tile and carpet are counted differently, so check them with the tile calculator or the carpet calculator before you decide.
Common questions
How many square feet does a box of laminate cover?
It depends on the product, so read the coverage on the carton you are buying. A sample carton covers 21.24 sq ft, and across the products of a single maker the range runs from 18.58 to 27.77 sq ft. Enter the figure from your own carton, not the sample.
How much extra laminate should I buy?
The calculator starts at 10 percent extra for a straight lay, and the range in the sources is 5 to 15 percent. Choose a higher figure when the room has many cuts, and for a diagonal layout.
Does the calculator show what laminate flooring costs?
No. It counts boxes and square feet, but it has no prices, because laminate costs vary by product, region and store. Multiply the box count by the price on your quote, then add underlayment, transitions and installation labor as separate costs if you hire someone.
Can I use this calculator for vinyl plank flooring?
Yes, the steps are the same, but enter the coverage printed on your vinyl carton. Vinyl cartons often cover a different area than laminate; one sample carton covers 34.98 sq ft. The usual extra is 10 percent for a straight lay and 15 percent for a diagonal lay.
Do I include closets and subtract cabinets when measuring for laminate?
Measure any closet that will get laminate as its own rectangle and add it to the room area. Built-in cabinets and islands sit on top of the floor, so you can leave their footprint out. Many installers still keep the extra for waste, because the cuts around them use up planks.
How much extra laminate do I need for a diagonal layout?
A diagonal lay cuts more planks than a straight lay, so Pergo's guide for its laminate says to add 15 percent instead of 10 percent. Check your own carton or installation guide, then raise the extra under More options.