UK Flooring Calculator — Free Online Tool

How to Calculate Flooring for Any Room

Working out how much flooring you need is one of the first steps in any flooring project, whether you are fitting laminate in a living room, vinyl in a kitchen, or carpet in a bedroom. Getting this calculation right saves money by avoiding over-ordering and prevents the frustration of running short mid-installation.

Step 1: Measure Your Room Accurately

Start by measuring the length and width of your room in metres using a quality tape measure. Always measure at floor level rather than at skirting board height, as walls are rarely perfectly straight. For the most accurate result, take measurements at two or three points along each wall and use the largest figure. Note down your measurements to two decimal places — for example, 4.23 metres rather than rounding to 4 metres.

If your room is not a simple rectangle, break it down into smaller rectangular sections. Measure each section separately, calculate the area of each, and add them together. For L-shaped rooms, this means two rectangles. For rooms with bay windows, measure the bay as a separate area and add it to the main room calculation.

Step 2: Calculate the Floor Area

Multiply the length by the width to get the floor area in square metres (m²). This is the basic measurement you need before adding wastage. For example, a room that is 4.5 metres long and 3.2 metres wide has a floor area of 14.40 m². Our calculator above does this instantly as you type your measurements.

Step 3: Add a Wastage Allowance

No flooring installation uses 100% of the material purchased. You will always have offcuts from trimming boards to fit around the edges of the room, and some pieces may be damaged during installation. The standard wastage allowances used across the UK flooring industry are:

• 10% for straight-lay or brick-bond patterns in a rectangular room
• 12–15% for L-shaped rooms, rooms with alcoves, or bay windows
• 15% for herringbone patterns
• 18–20% for chevron or diagonal patterns
• Add an extra 5% if you are a first-time DIY installer

Step 4: Convert to Packs or Rolls

Flooring materials are sold differently depending on the type. Laminate and engineered wood come in packs with a stated coverage (commonly 1.99 m² or 2.22 m² per pack in the UK). Carpet and vinyl are typically sold from rolls measured in linear metres with a standard width (usually 4 metres or 5 metres for carpet). Always round up to the next whole pack or the next 10 cm of roll length — you cannot buy partial packs.

Step 5: Estimate the Cost

Once you know the total area including wastage, multiply by the cost per square metre to get a material cost estimate. Remember that the total project cost also includes underlay, adhesive or fixings, door trims, skirting boards, and professional fitting if you are not doing it yourself. Use our detailed flooring cost estimator for a full breakdown including fitting costs by region.

UK Flooring Types Compared

Choosing the right flooring depends on the room, your budget, and how much foot traffic the area receives. Here is a comparison of the most popular flooring types available from UK retailers in 2026:

Room Measuring Tips for Flooring

Accurate measurements are the foundation of a successful flooring project. Professional fitters follow these practices, and you should too:

Dealing with Irregular Rooms

Most rooms in UK homes are not perfectly rectangular. Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have chimney breast recesses, bay windows, and alcoves. Modern builds may have open-plan areas with irregular shapes. The key principle is to break any room into rectangles, calculate each rectangle’s area, and add them together. Always measure the maximum dimensions — it is better to have slightly more flooring than to run short.

What About Fitted Furniture?

As a general rule, you should calculate flooring for the entire room, including areas under fitted furniture that is unlikely to be moved. This gives you a margin for error and means the flooring is complete if furniture is ever rearranged. The exception is permanently fixed kitchen units — you can exclude the area under these, but allow at least 5 cm under the toe kick for a neat finish.

Doorways and Thresholds

Remember to include any doorway areas in your measurements. Flooring should extend into the doorframe, meeting the threshold strip. If you are fitting the same flooring through a hallway and into adjoining rooms, measure the entire area as one project to ensure consistent batch matching and pattern continuity.

For more precise calculations tailored to specific flooring types, use our specialist calculators below:

Specialist Flooring Calculators