How Many Boxes of Flooring Do I Need?

Before buying flooring, you need to know the total square footage of your room and how much flooring is included in each box. Buying too little can leave you short, while buying too much means unnecessary waste.

1. Calculate the Floor Area

For a rectangular or square room, multiply the length by the width:

Floor area = Length × Width

For example, a room that is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide has:

12 × 10 = 120 square feet

2. Check the Coverage Per Box

Look at the flooring package to find how many square feet one box covers. If one box covers 20 square feet:

120 ÷ 20 = 6 boxes

So you would need 6 boxes before allowing for waste.

3. Add Extra Flooring for Waste

It is generally a good idea to purchase 5–10% extra flooring for cutting, fitting, damaged pieces, and future repairs.

For 120 square feet with 10% extra:

120 × 1.10 = 132 square feet

Then divide by the coverage per box:

132 ÷ 20 = 6.6

Since you cannot buy part of a box, you would need 7 boxes.

Quick Formula

Boxes needed = (Room length × room width × 1.05–1.10) ÷ square feet per box

For irregular rooms, divide the space into smaller rectangles, calculate each area, and add them together.

If you want a quick estimate, use a flooring calculator to calculate the required flooring and account for waste before purchasing your materials.