Ordering the right amount of flooring comes down to five minutes with a tape measure and one simple rule: length × width, plus 10%. Here’s how to measure like an installer.
1. Measure each room as a rectangle
Measure the longest length and widest width of the room in metres, then multiply them. A 5.2m × 4.1m lounge is 21.3m². Treat every room, hallway and wardrobe floor as its own rectangle.
2. Break odd shapes into rectangles
L-shaped room? Split it into two rectangles, calculate each, and add them together. Walk-in robes, pantries and alcoves are usually easiest measured separately and added on.
3. Add wastage
Cuts at walls and doorways always create offcuts. Add 10% for straight-lay floors in normal rooms; go to 15% for rooms with many angles, or for herringbone and chevron patterns, which generate more offcuts by design. It’s far cheaper to have one spare pack than to re-order (and risk a different production batch).
4. Convert to packs
Flooring is sold by the pack, each covering a set area (it’s listed on every product page). Divide your total m² by the pack coverage and round up to whole packs — our product-page calculator does this automatically when you enter your area.
5. Keep a spare pack
Store leftover boards flat in a cupboard. If a plank is ever damaged, you’ll have a perfect colour-match replacement from the same batch.
Quick example
Lounge 21.3m² + hall 6.4m² = 27.7m² × 1.10 wastage = 30.5m². With packs covering 2.20m²: 30.5 ÷ 2.20 = 13.9 → 14 packs.
Ready to price it up? Enter your area on any product page for an instant pack count, then check delivery to your postcode.