Tips for Determining the Square Footage of Flooring You’ll Need

To calculate square footage:
Multiply the width by the length for each room, which gives you the square footage for each individual room.

When measuring your room(s), measure to the widest part of the room (width) and to the longest part (length), treating it as if it were a square or rectangle. This means that even though you may have a closet or nook in a room, for instance, make sure to include that in your measurement.

For “waste,” add an additional 10% to your final square footage to arrive at the total square footage you need to purchase. Allowing for “waste” is important when installing hardwood floors because cutting and trimming boards to fit must be considered. Also, you need to have extra flooring to allow for a pleasing pattern and color blending. For linear, parallel installations, waste may be figured as low as 10%. Installations requiring angle cuts should allow for 15% waste. Consult with us if you are uncertain as to the complexity of the installation and to make sure you order an adequate amount of flooring (it’s always good to have a little left over in case repairs are needed in the future).

To Calculate SF for Random Width Flooring:
(Total Square Footage ÷ Total Pattern Width) x Width in Question = SF of Width Needed
EXAMPLE: To calculate the square footage of 5” planks needed for a 240 SF random width floor with 3”, 4” and 5” planks: (240 SF ÷ 3+4+5) x 5 = 100 SF needed of 5” planks.