How To Measure Your Room
When it comes to how to measure flooring, there are just a couple of simple steps to follow. Once you know how to calculate room size, measuring your room is a quick and easy process that can be done efficiently by anyone, without the need for a joiner or fitter.
Tools You'll Need
For this task, all you need is:
A measuring tape
A pen
A piece of paper
If you can enlist an assistant, a second pair of hands may also come in useful for more accurate results.
How To Calculate Room Size
Square or Rectangular Rooms
Step 1
When it comes to how to measure for flooring, measuring a square or rectangular room could not be easier. First, use your measuring tape to measure the length then the breadth of the room. Then, multiply these numbers by one another to get your square footage. For example, if your room is 4m x 3m, you have a 12m² room. (See image to the left).
Step 2
Once you’ve established your measurements, it's important to add around 10% of your total size to your total square footage, in order for the laminate or wooden boards to be staggered when you lay them. This will also ensure you have enough to cover any board irregularities and cutting errors.
Irregular Shaped Rooms
Step 1
If you have an irregular or L-shaped room, it is often beneficial to create a rough sketch of the layout then identify areas that can be sectioned into neat, easily manageable squares or rectangles. (See image to the right).
Step 2
Each area you’ve sectioned can then be measured by width and breadth to determine the square footage. Once you’ve got all these measurements, simply add them together to calculate the total size of your room.
Hints & Tips
• It is best to measure your floor in metres as this is the format in which your flooring is likely to be sold.
• Always remember a waste factor of 10%.
• Measure into skirting and door frames as your flooring will finish under these.
• Don’t forget about fireplaces, alcoves and cupboards!
Now you know how to calculate room size, you know how to measure for flooring and are ready to get started! Whether you're looking for Laminate, LVT or Engineered flooring, our flooring calculator will work out how many packs you need. Select a product you like, input your total m2 measurement and we'll do the rest!
Follow Our Step By Step Video Guide
Step 1: Measure the length of your room from one wall to the opposite wall and make a note of this measurement.
Step 2: Repeat the process for the width of your room and take note of that measurement as well.
Step 3: Multiply the length of the room by the width to find the total square meters of your room.
Step 4: Consider the type of flooring you plan to order and factor in some extra for wastage. For Laminate Flooring, allow 10% wastage, for Engineered/Real Wood Flooring also allow 10%, and for Herringbone or Chevron Flooring, allow 15%. For example, if your room has a length of 3.5m and a width of 2.2m, your total needed area is 7.7m². With 10% Laminate Flooring wastage (0.77m²), the total needed would be 8.47m², rounded up to 8.5m² for safety.
Step 5: If you're using our website, each product page has a space where you can input the square meterage. We will then provide you with the exact number of packs you need.
