How to measure a room for flooring

Sketch the room and divide irregular shapes into rectangles. Measure the longest length and width of each rectangle, calculate each area, then add the areas together.

Measure closets, alcoves and door recesses separately. Do not subtract permanent fixtures unless the flooring will definitely stop around them. Add 5–10% waste for straight installations and more for diagonal layouts, complex cuts or products with strong pattern variation.

Check the coverage printed on the actual box. Divide the adjusted project area by that coverage, then round up to a whole box. Keep spare matching material for future repairs.