When installing new flooring in a room, one of the most important calculations you need to make is how much flooring you need to purchase. Buying the right amount of flooring ensures you don’t come up short or end up with a lot of wasted material. For a 12×12 room, determining the flooring amount is easy once you know the basic formula.
The Basic Formula
To find out how much flooring you need, you simply multiply the length of the room by the width and add extra for any odd shapes, closets or wasted material. Here is the basic formula:
Flooring Needed = (Length x Width) + Extra
So for a 12×12 room with no odd shapes or closets, the formula would be:
Flooring Needed = (12 x 12) + 0 = 144 sq ft
This means you would need 144 square feet of flooring material for a 12×12 room without any deductions needed. The extra 0 at the end is for the amount of wasted material or odd shapes.
Calculating Your 12×12 Room
To determine how much flooring you need for your 12×12 room, follow these steps:
- Measure the length and width of the room in feet, rounding up to the nearest whole foot. A standard 12×12 room will be 12 feet long by 12 feet wide.
- Multiply the length by the width to get your square footage. For a 12×12 room this would be 12 x 12 = 144 sq ft.
- Add in any square footage needed for odd-shaped Areas like closets or alcoves. Add about 10% to allow for waste if cutting around irregular areas.
- Purchase enough flooring to cover the total square footage with about 10% extra as a safety margin.
So for a room that’s perfectly square with no odd areas, you would need 144 sq ft of flooring. But rooms often have closets, alcoves, entryways or other areas that require extra flooring. Add 10-20% to the total square footage to cover these odd spaces and waste.
What About Other Room Sizes?
The same formula applies for calculating flooring for any room size, not just a 12×12 room. Here are some examples:
- 10×10 room: 10 x 10 = 100 sq ft
- 15×15 room: 15 x 15 = 225 sq ft
- 20×20 room: 20 x 20 = 400 sq ft
Simply measure the length and width, multiply them together, and add 10-20% for any waste or odd areas. Make sure to round up to the nearest whole foot when taking your measurements.
Considerations for Different Flooring Types
The formula remains the same regardless of the type of flooring you choose. However, you may need to adjust your calculations slightly for these specialty flooring options:
Tile Flooring
When using tile, you need to account for the space needed between each tile. Based on the size of the grout lines, add 5-10% extra to your square footage calculation.
Diagonal or Decorative Patterns
If installing the flooring on a diagonal or with a decorative pattern, add about 10% extra to allow for cutting waste and pattern matching.
Hardwood Flooring
With solid hardwood, factor in that you will likely need to discard boards that are damaged or defective. Add 5-10% to your total footage to account for this.
What About Other Room Shapes?
The same principles apply if your room is not a perfect square or rectangle. Here are some tips for calculating flooring needs in different room layouts:
L-Shaped Rooms
Break the room into separate rectangles and calculate each section individually. Then add them together.
Circular Rooms
Measure the diameter across the center and calculate the radius. Use the formula Area = π r2 to find the square footage.
Rooms with Alcoves or Cutouts
Take separate measurements for each section and add together. Add a bit extra for the odd spaces.
Rooms with Multiple Levels
Measure each level separately and calculate. Add together for the total square footage.
What About Stairs?
For staircases, measure the tread depth and the width of each step. Multiply for the area of each stair tread and add together for the total square footage. Remember to also measure any landings.
Tips for Accurate Measuring
Getting accurate room measurements is crucial for purchasing the right flooring amount. Here are some tips:
- Use a steel tape measure and measure to the nearest 1⁄8 inch.
- Make sure walls are perfectly square before measuring length and width.
- Account for baseboards and moldings that may reduce the floor space.
- For irregular areas, break into rectangles and triangles to calculate.
- Have someone double check your measurements.
Purchasing Extra Flooring
It’s always smart to purchase 5-10% more flooring than your measurements indicate. This provides you extra material in case:
- Your calculations were slightly off.
- You make a mistake during installation and need to recut boards.
- Later down the road a repair is needed.
- You decide to extend the flooring into adjacent rooms in the future.
Purchasing this extra material upfront saves you from ending up short or having to buy more flooring later to make repairs or extensions.
Using Flooring Calculators
If doing the flooring calculations yourself seems too complicated or you want to double check your figures, there are handy flooring calculators online. You simply enter your room dimensions and the calculator will determine the flooring needed.
Some popular flooring calculator options include:
- Home Depot’s Flooring Calculator
- Lowe’s Flooring Calculator
- Pergo Flooring Calculator
- Carpets Plus ColorTile Flooring Calculator
- Empire Today Flooring Calculator
These calculators take into account wasted material and odd spaces, giving you an accurate estimate of how much flooring to buy.
Getting a Professional Estimate
If you want the greatest accuracy, have a flooring installer or home improvement store employee calculate how much flooring you need. They have experience measuring rooms and factoring in waste and other variables.
To get a professional estimate, have the following information ready:
- Room dimensions
- Any odd angles, alcoves or other intricacies
- Type of flooring material you plan to use
- Pattern, if any
A professional can use this information to precisely calculate the required square footage and guarantee you buy the right amount.
Planning Your Purchase
Once you’ve calculated the flooring needed, you can plan out purchasing the right amount. Here are some final tips for purchasing success:
- Have at least 10% extra on hand for waste and errors.
- Buy all materials at once to guarantee matching dye lots.
- Factor in delivery time so flooring arrives when needed.
- Open boxes and inspect material for defects immediately.
- Save receipts in case returns or exchanges are needed.
Carefully measuring your space, calculating material, and planning the purchase helps ensure your flooring project starts off on the right foot.
Conclusion
Figuring out the amount of flooring needed for a 12×12 room is straightforward once you know the basic formulas. Simply measure room dimensions, calculate the square footage, and add extra for waste, odd shapes and other factors. Purchasing an extra 5-10% on top of your estimate guarantees you end up with just the right amount. Use online calculators or get a professional estimate if you want extra assurance. With the right measurements and planning, you can calculate flooring needs for a 12×12 room or any space in your home.
