How Much Flooring Do I Need? Measure Your Rooms in 5 Minutes
Quick answer: Measure each room's length × width in metres to get square metres (m²). Add the rooms together, then add about 10% extra for cuts and offcuts (around 15% for herringbone or rooms with lots of corners). Divide by the m² per box and round up to the next full box. Order a little extra and keep a spare box for future repairs.
What you need
A tape measure (a laser measure is even easier)
A pen and paper, or your phone
Five minutes per room
Step 1: Measure each room
Measure the longest length and the widest width of the room, wall to wall, in metres. Include areas under appliances like the fridge if the floor will run underneath them, and include wardrobe floors if you want them done.
Example: a lounge room is 5.2 m long and 4.1 m wide.
Step 2: Work out the square metres
Multiply length by width.
Example: 5.2 × 4.1 = 21.32 m²
Step 3: Handle L-shaped rooms
Split the room into two rectangles, measure each one, and add them together.
Example: an open-plan area is a 6 m × 4 m living space plus a 3 m × 2.5 m dining nook.
6 × 4 = 24 m²
3 × 2.5 = 7.5 m²
Total = 31.5 m²
Step 4: Add up all the rooms
List every room and add them together. Don't forget hallways and walk-in robes.
Lounge — Size: 5.2 × 4.1 · m²: 21.32
Open-plan kitchen/dining — Size: (L-shape) · m²: 31.50
Hallway — Size: 6.0 × 1.1 · m²: 6.60
Bedroom 1 — Size: 3.8 × 3.4 · m²: 12.92
**Total — Size: · m²: 72.34**
Step 5: Add your waste allowance
Some planks get cut to fit around walls, doorways and corners. The offcuts can't always be reused, so add a little extra:
Simple rooms, straight planks: add about 10%
Lots of corners, angles or small rooms: add about 12–15%
Herringbone patterns: add about 15%
Example: 72.34 m² + 10% = 79.6 m²
Step 6: Convert to boxes
Every product page shows how many m² are in one box. Divide your total by that number and always round up.
Example: if a box covers 2.2 m²: 79.6 ÷ 2.2 = 36.2 → order 37 boxes.
Our product pages have a built-in calculator that does this for you.
Tips that save headaches later
Keep a spare box. If a plank is ever damaged, you'll have a perfect colour match — colours can vary slightly between production batches.
Order everything at once for the same reason.
Measure twice. It's quicker than a second delivery.
Think about trims. Scotia (the small moulding around the edges) is measured in metres around the walls. Doorways may need a transition trim.
Not confident? Book a free measure and we'll do it for you.
Do I measure for stairs differently?
Yes — stairs are counted per step, not by m². Read our guide to hybrid flooring on stairs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I include the area under kitchen cabinets?
No. Floating floors go around fixed kitchen cabinets, not under them. Measure only the open floor. Read flooring before or after the kitchen.
Is 10% extra really needed?
For most rooms, yes. Running short in the middle of a job is a much bigger problem than having a few leftover planks.
Can you measure for me?
Yes. Our free measure and quote covers measuring, checking your floors and recommending options.
Let us do the maths
Use the calculator on any flooring product page, order up to three free samples ($19.90 flat postage), or book a free measure and quote.
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