Hardwood Flooring Calculator
Square footage, boxes and cost for solid or engineered wood.
Enter your values
Enter the room length in ft.
Enter the room width in ft.
Choose one of: Straight, standard (7%), Straight, mixed widths (8%), Diagonal (15%), Herringbone (20%).
Enter the coverage per box in sq ft.
Enter the price per sq ft in $.
Enter the install cost per sq ft in $.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Boxes to buy
- 11
- Room area
- 192 sq ft
- With waste
- 207.36 sq ft
- Material cost
- $1,430.00
- Installation
- $768.00
- Total project
- $2,198.00
Working
- 1192 ft2 x 1.08 = 207.36 ft2 / 20 = 11 boxes
Quick answer
Flooring = room area plus waste, divided by the coverage per box. Diagonal or herringbone layouts need more waste.
boxes = area x (1 + waste) / coverage per box
At a glance
| What it does | Square footage, boxes and cost for solid or engineered wood. |
|---|---|
| Category | Home & DIY |
| Inputs needed | Room length, Room width, Layout waste, Coverage per box, Price per sq ft, Install cost per sq ft |
| Main output | Boxes to buy |
| Formula | boxes = area x (1 + waste) / coverage per box |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Hardwood Flooring Calculator
- 1Measure length and width at the widest points, including closets you plan to floor.
- 2Choose the waste percentage that matches your layout.
- 3Buy all boxes from the same batch so the colour and grade match.
Inputs explained
- Room length(ft)
- Enter the room length in ft.
- Room width(ft)
- Enter the room width in ft.
- Layout waste
- Choose one of: Straight, standard (7%), Straight, mixed widths (8%), Diagonal (15%), Herringbone (20%).
- Coverage per box(sq ft)
- Enter the coverage per box in sq ft.
- Price per sq ft($)
- Enter the price per sq ft in $.
- Install cost per sq ft($)
- Enter the install cost per sq ft in $.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Room length16 ft
- Room width12 ft
- Layout wasteStraight, mixed widths (8%)
- Coverage per box20 sq ft
- Price per sq ft6.50 $
- Install cost per sq ft4 $
Results
- Boxes to buy11
- Room area192 sq ft
- With waste207.36 sq ft
- Material cost$1,430.00
- Installation$768.00
- Total project$2,198.00
- 192 ft2 x 1.08 = 207.36 ft2 / 20 = 11 boxes
Frequently asked questions
How much waste should I allow for hardwood?
7 to 10% for a straight layout in a simple room, 15% for diagonal and up to 20% for herringbone or a room full of angles.
Should I keep leftovers?
Yes - keep at least one box. Boards from the same run are the only reliable match for future repairs.
What do I need to enter into the Hardwood Flooring Calculator?
Just 6 values: room length, room width, layout waste, coverage per box, price per sq ft, install cost per sq ft. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Hardwood Flooring Calculator work out the answer?
Flooring = room area plus waste, divided by the coverage per box. Diagonal or herringbone layouts need more waste. It applies the formula boxes = area x (1 + waste) / coverage per box and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Hardwood Flooring Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.