Calculate an extra-area allowance, target area including that allowance, or whole boxes for a rectangular room. The allowance is a percentage of net floor area; material presets are editable illustrations, and carpet or sheet goods also need a roll-width and seam plan.

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Waste is extra area as a percentage of net floor area. Use the product and layout allowance; presets are illustrative. Carpet and sheet goods also need a roll-width and seam plan.

Illustrative allowance preset

Selecting fills the allowance; edit it for your product and layout.

Related Calculators

Flooring Waste Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the flooring waste.

FW = (TA × WR) / 100

Variables:

  • FW is the flooring waste in square feet or square meters
  • TA is the total area of the room in square feet or square meters
  • WR is the waste ratio as a percentage

To calculate the flooring waste, multiply the total area of the room by the waste ratio. Then divide the result by 100 to convert the waste ratio from percentage to a decimal. The result is the amount of flooring waste in the same units as the total area.

What Is Flooring Waste?

In this calculator, flooring waste means extra flooring area allowed above the net area to cover cuts and layout loss. It does not estimate debris, packaging, adhesive or removed flooring. Use the product and installation plan to choose an allowance; roll widths, seams and patterns require additional layout planning.

How to Calculate Flooring Waste?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Flooring Waste.

  1. First, determine the total area of the room (TA) in square feet or square meters.
  2. Next, determine the waste ratio (WR) as a percentage.
  3. Next, gather the formula from above = FW = (TA * WR) / 100.
  4. Finally, calculate the Flooring Waste (FW).
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Total area of the room (TA) = 500 square feet

Waste ratio (WR) = 10%; FW = 500 × 10 ÷ 100 = 50 square feet of extra allowance. Target area = 500 + 50 = 550 square feet. For boxed flooring, divide that target by coverage per box and round up.