Quick Answer
To calculate how many cases of laminate flooring you need for a project, there are a few key things you’ll need to know:
- The square footage of the space you’re flooring
- The size of the laminate flooring planks you’ve chosen (width x length)
- How many laminate planks come in each case
Once you have this information, you can use the following steps:
- Measure the length and width of the room in feet to get the total square footage.
- Divide the square footage by the width of your laminate planks. This gives you the number of planks needed to cover the width of the room.
- Divide the square footage by the length of your planks. This gives you the number of planks needed to cover the length.
- Take the larger of the two plank measurements. This is the minimum number of planks needed.
- Divide the minimum number of planks by the number of planks in a case. Round up to the nearest whole number. This gives you the number of cases to purchase.
Always round up and buy 10-15% extra to allow for imperfections and cutting waste. Carefully measuring the room and understanding the plank size in each case are key to buying the right amount of flooring.
Measuring and Calculating Square Footage
The starting point for all laminate flooring calculations is figuring out the total square footage of the space. Here are some tips for measuring rooms accurately:
- Use a laser measuring tape for precision. Or use a standard retractable tape measure.
- Measure length from wall to wall, excluding baseboards. Measure width from wall to wall at the narrowest point.
- For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles/squares and measure each individually, then add together.
- Always measure in feet to make the math easier. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12.
- Round up fractions of a foot to the next whole foot.
- Multiply length x width to get the area in square feet for each space. Add all areas together.
Be sure to measure and calculate the square footage for each separate room or space you’ll be flooring. Don’t forget closets and alcoves. A professional installer will do this for you, but if you’re DIYing it, meticulously measuring each space is crucial.
Recording your measurements and making a floor plan sketch can help avoid mistakes. Having the total square footage of the entire job is key for determining materials.
Understanding Plank Dimensions
Laminate flooring planks come in a range of widths and lengths. The dimensions will affect how many planks you need to cover a given square footage. Here are some common laminate flooring sizes:
Widths:
- 5 inch
- 7 inch
- 8 inch
Lengths:
- 24 inch
- 36 inch
- 48 inch
However, dimensions can vary between brands and styles. Always check the product details of the specific flooring you choose.
The width of the planks is the most important measurement for calculations. The planks need to cover the width of the room. The length just determines how many seams there will be.
Tip: Choose the widest plank that fits your budget to minimize seams.
Figuring Out Planks Needed
Once you know the room’s square footage and the laminate plank dimensions, you can determine how many planks you need.
Use this process:
- Width: Divide square footage by plank width. This gives you the minimum number of planks needed to cover the width of the room.
- Length: Divide square footage by plank length. This gives you the minimum number of planks needed to cover the length.
- The larger number is the total minimum planks needed for the space.
Example:
- Room = 10 ft x 12 ft = 120 sq ft
- Plank = 5 in width x 48 in length
- Width: 120 sq ft / 0.42 ft (5 in) = 286 planks
- Length: 120 sq ft / 4 ft (48 in) = 30 planks
286 planks are needed for this example room.
Doing the math separately for width and length ensures you have enough planks in both dimensions to cover the entire space.
Calculating Cases Required
The final step is to convert the number of planks needed into cases required.
Laminate flooring cases contain a set number of planks per case. The amount can vary between 15-30 planks typically.
Check your flooring product details to see how many planks come in one case, then:
- Divide minimum planks needed by planks per case.
- Round up to the nearest whole number.
Example:
- 286 planks needed
- 20 planks per case
- 286 / 20 = 14.3 cases
- Round up to 15 cases
Rounding up ensures you buy slightly more than the bare minimum needed. Having extra planks allows for defects, minor damage, and custom cutting.
Ordering Extra for Waste Factor
When determining final laminate flooring quantities, order 10-15% extra than the minimum calculated. This provides a margin of error for:
- Defects: Some planks may have flaws you won’t use.
- Cutting mistakes: Wrong measurements or breakage may occur.
- custom cuts: You’ll need to cut planks to fit irregular spaces.
- Future repairs: Handy to have spare planks for minor fixes down the road.
To account for waste:
- Multiply total cases by 1.10 for 10% extra.
- Or by 1.15 for 15% spare.
The small expense up front can avoid headaches and extra trips to the store later. Having leftover material is common.
Purchasing Everything You Need
Ordering laminate flooring involves more than just the planks. Be sure to also purchase:
- Transitions: For doorways and between rooms.
- Reducers: For between floors of different heights.
- Underlayment: For protecting the subfloor.
- Adhesives: If using a glue-down method.
- Tools: Trimmer, pull bar, spacers, rubber mallet, etc.
Carefully read through the installation guide to make sure you have everything required before starting. Home improvement stores have laminate flooring accessories to choose from.
Buying all materials together also allows you to return unopened cases if you end up with excess. Keep the receipts and don’t open all cases until you confirm quantities.
Sample Laminate Flooring Calculation
Let’s go through a full example laminate flooring calculation for a bedroom:
- Room dimensions: 10 ft x 12 ft = 120 sq ft
- Plank dimensions: 7 in x 48 in (0.58 ft x 4 ft)
- Planks per case: 20
- Width calculation: 120 sq ft / 0.58 ft = 207 planks
- Length calculation: 120 sq ft / 4 ft = 30 planks
- 207 planks needed (greater number controls)
- 207 planks / 20 planks per case = 10.4 cases
- Round up to 11 cases
- Add 15% waste factor: 11 x 1.15 = 13 cases
For a room measuring 10 x 12 ft and using 7 in wide planks, you would need to purchase 13 cases total.
Always confirm your measurements and plank dimensions before purchasing. Also account for transitions, underlayment, and tools. Carefully calculating cases required helps ensure you buy the right laminate flooring amount for your project the first time.
Conclusion
Determining how many cases of laminate flooring you need comes down to four key steps:
- Accurately measure room dimensions and calculate total square footage.
- Understand the width and length dimensions of the specific planks you chose.
- Divide square footage by plank width and length to get minimum planks needed.
- Divide minimum planks by the number in a case and round up to get cases required.
Be sure to also factor in an extra 10-15% for waste and defects. Having a few extra cases avoids headaches but too many extra cases leads to unnecessary spending.
Careful planning and measurement helps ensure you buy the optimal amount of laminate flooring for your project. With the right quantity purchased upfront, you can complete your installation efficiently from start to finish.
Tables
| Room | Dimensions (feet) | Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Living Room | 14 x 18 | 252 |
| Dining Room | 12 x 12 | 144 |
| Kitchen | 10 x 15 | 150 |
| Total | 546 |
| Plank Width | Planks Needed |
|---|---|
| 5 inches | 1,092 |
| 7 inches | 780 |
| 8 inches | 683 |
