How this calculation works
- Measured area is length × width or a total you already summed across rooms.
- Waste depends on layout. Diagonals and tile need more; a simple plank rectangle needs less. You can override the default.
- Boxes divide order area by the coverage on the carton. Cost is order area × your material $/sq ft (underlayment extra).
order = area × (1+waste%); boxes = ceil(order / box coverage); cost = order × $/sq ft
What to do next
- Add closets if they should match. Do not use listing square footage.
- For tile, confirm thinset, grout, and schluter or lippage systems separately.
- Acclimate wood as the manufacturer requires; quantity math does not replace that.
FAQ
- Should waste apply to the last full box?
- We round boxes up after waste. That leftover is your repair stock if it is the same lot.
- Carpet is sold by the square yard. What do I enter?
- Keep this tool in square feet (1 yd² = 9 ft²). Enter box/roll coverage in square feet, or convert your seaming diagram to square feet first.
Sources
- Order area = measured area × (1 + waste%). Boxes = ceil(order / coverage per box)
- Waste defaults: typical layout practice (plank ~8%, tile ~12%, carpet ~8%), not a manufacturer warranty rule
Cost defaults are typical US planning bands, last reviewed 2026-08-25. Edit the price fields on this page rather than treating them as a local market index.