Flooring & Tile
Flooring Calculator
Enter your room in metres or feet — Canadian flooring boxes are labelled in both sq ft and m², and this calculator converts either way and counts the boxes to buy.
Formula tested · Local units · No sign-up
Project inputs
Enter measurements
Use your preferred units. Results update automatically.
Show the calculation methodFormula, conversions, rounding, and assumptions+
Room area = length × width, converted to a common unit first. Canadian rooms are often measured in feet while box labels are bilingual with both sq ft and m² — the calculator accepts either and converts exactly.
A wastage allowance is added on top (default 8% for a straight lay), then the total is divided by the coverage per box from the label and rounded up to whole boxes, because flooring is sold in sealed boxes.
Real-world example
Worked example: 4.2 m × 3.5 m living room, laminate, 8% wastage
- Room area: 4.2 × 3.5 = 14.7 m².
- Add 8% wastage: 14.7 × 1.08 = 15.88 m² to purchase.
- Boxes at 1.9 m² per box (from the label): 15.88 ÷ 1.9 = 8.36.
- Round up to whole boxes: 9 boxes.
Buy 9 boxes (17.1 m²). Enter your store's price per box and your province's combined GST/PST or HST rate for a cost estimate — rates differ by province.
Before you start
How to measure
- Measure the room in whichever units you have — each field accepts metres, centimetres, feet or inches and the tool converts, so a room in feet against a box labelled in m² is fine.
- Canadian box labels are bilingual and usually state coverage in both sq ft and m² — enter whichever figure you use, with the matching unit, and keep it consistent with your area unit.
- Include closets and doorway transitions; split L-shaped rooms into rectangles and add the areas in direct-area mode.
Local guidance
Notes for Canada
- Canadian flooring retail mixes conventions: prices are usually advertised per square foot, while the bilingual box label shows coverage in both sq ft and m² — this calculator takes either unit.
- Vinyl plank and laminate dominate the DIY market; in much of Canada, seasonal humidity swings make the manufacturer's acclimatization and expansion-gap instructions especially important.
- Sales tax is 5% federal GST plus provincial tax or a combined HST depending on the province — enter your combined rate. Shelf prices are shown before tax.
Quick reference
Typical wastage allowance by laying pattern (planning values)
| Pattern | Typical allowance |
|---|---|
| Straight lay, regular room | 8% |
| Straight lay, many doorways/alcoves | 10% |
| Diagonal lay | 12–15% |
| Herringbone / chevron | 15–20% |
Planning values only — your installer and the room's shape determine the real allowance.
Good to know
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a room measured in feet against a box coverage in m² without setting the units — the per-field unit selectors handle it, but only if they're set.
- Skipping the manufacturer's acclimatization period before installation in a climate with big seasonal humidity swings.
- Buying exactly the room area with no wastage or spare planks for repairs.
- Assuming the tax rate — GST/HST/PST combinations differ by province.
Need help?
Frequently asked questions
The box says 19.6 sq ft — how many square metres is that?
19.6 sq ft × 0.0929 = about 1.82 m². You don't need to convert by hand, though: enter the box coverage in ft² and your room in metres and the calculator reconciles the units exactly.
Is 8% wastage enough?
For a straight lay in a regular rectangular room, yes — it's the standard planning allowance. Go to 10% with many doorways or alcoves, and 15% or more for diagonal or herringbone patterns.
What tax rate should I enter?
Your province's combined rate: 5% GST everywhere plus PST or the provincial portion of HST depending on where you live. The calculator applies the rate you enter to the price you enter.
Keep planning
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About this calculator
- Written by:
- BuildMeasure Editorial Team
- Technically reviewed by:
- Pending independent technical reviewer (formula unit-tested; see methodology)
- Last reviewed:
- 2026-07-16
- Formula version:
- 1.0.0
- Region reviewed for:
- Canada
- Spotted an error?
- Report a correction
Methodology
- Room area comes either from length × width or from a directly entered area. All arithmetic runs internally in SI units (m²); regional units (feet, ft²) are converted exactly on the way in and out.
- The area to purchase = room area × (1 + wastage %). Wastage covers end-of-row cuts, defects and spares, and depends mainly on the laying pattern — the default 8% suits a straight plank lay.
- When you enter the coverage per box from the box label, boxes = purchase area ÷ box coverage, rounded UP to a whole box, because flooring is sold in sealed boxes.
- The cost estimate uses the price you enter: price per box × boxes when a box price is given (it takes precedence), otherwise price per area × the purchase area; the tax rate you enter is then applied. No prices are built in.
- The formula is covered by automated unit tests, including hand-calculated worked examples, and is versioned (see formula version on this page).
Sources & standards
- Unit definitions: 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m² (exact definition); box labels in Canada typically show both units.
- Wastage allowances: 8% straight lay / 15%+ herringbone are standard planning allowances; confirm with your installer.
This tool provides a material estimate for planning purposes only. It is not a quotation, and it does not cover underlay, trims, subfloor preparation or installation. Confirm quantities and box coverage with your flooring supplier before ordering.