How to Install Flooring
Learn how to install flooring step by step, with the tools, materials, and a free calculator to estimate exactly what you need. To find how much flooring you need, multiply the room length by width for the area, then add 5–15% for waste and cuts. Divide by the coverage per box to get the number of boxes. A 15×12 ft room needs about 198 sq ft with 10% waste, costing roughly $600–$2,000 installed depending on material.
Get exact numbers
Use the free Flooring Calculator to estimate your project.
Step-by-step
- 1
Measure the room
Multiply length × width. Split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add them.
- 2
Add a waste factor
5% for straight lay, 10% standard, 15% for diagonal or patterned layouts.
- 3
Divide by box coverage
Check the carton — most boxes cover 18–24 sq ft.
- 4
Round up
Always round boxes up and keep a spare for future repairs.
Pro tips
- Avoid: forgetting the waste factor — Cuts at walls and around obstacles waste material. Add 10% for straight lay and 15% for diagonal or herringbone.
- Avoid: measuring an l-shaped room as one rectangle — Split irregular rooms into rectangles, calculate each, and add them before applying waste.
- Avoid: not buying a spare box — Dye lots change between runs. Keep an extra box sealed for future repairs so it matches.
- Avoid: ignoring underlayment and transitions — Underlayment, trim, and transition strips add to the budget and aren't in the flooring square footage.