Calculate the amount of vinyl plank flooring and estimate the cost for your project.
Add extra for cuts, mistakes, and future repairs. Typical is 5-15%.
Your Flooring Estimate
Total Square Feet Needed:
Total Planks Needed:
Estimated Material Cost:
Calculated Area: sq ft
Area with Waste: sq ft
Understanding Your Vinyl Plank Flooring Calculation
Installing new vinyl plank flooring is an exciting home improvement project. To ensure you purchase the right amount of material and stay within budget, a precise calculation is essential. This calculator helps you determine the total square footage of flooring needed, accounting for the dimensions of your room, the size of the planks, and crucial waste for cuts and potential mistakes.
How the Calculation Works:
The process involves several steps:
Calculate Room Area: The primary step is to find the square footage of the room you plan to cover. This is done by multiplying the room's length by its width.
Formula: Room Area = Room Length (ft) × Room Width (ft)
Calculate Plank Area: Next, we determine the square footage of a single vinyl plank. Since plank dimensions are often given in inches, they must be converted to feet before calculating the area.
Plank Width (ft) = Plank Width (inches) / 12 Plank Length (ft) = Plank Length (inches) / 12 Formula: Single Plank Area (sq ft) = Plank Width (ft) × Plank Length (ft)
Calculate Total Planks: Once you know the total area of the room and the area of one plank, you can estimate the number of planks needed for the calculated room area.
Formula: Total Planks (for room area) = Room Area (sq ft) / Single Plank Area (sq ft)
Factor in Waste: It's never recommended to buy the exact amount of flooring for the room's area. Cuts for doorways, corners, irregular shapes, and potential mistakes during installation require extra material. The 'Waste Factor' is applied as a percentage to the total room area to account for this. A typical waste factor is between 5% and 15%.
Formula: Area with Waste (sq ft) = Room Area (sq ft) × (1 + Waste Factor (%)/100)
Total Square Feet Needed: This is the final square footage you should aim to purchase, ensuring you have enough material.
Total Square Feet Needed = Area with Waste (sq ft)
Total Planks Needed (with waste): This is the total number of planks to purchase, rounding up to the nearest whole plank after accounting for waste.
Total Planks Needed = Total Square Feet Needed / Single Plank Area (sq ft) (Rounded up to the nearest whole number)
Estimated Material Cost: Finally, multiply the 'Total Square Feet Needed' by the 'Cost Per Square Foot' to get an estimate of your material expenses.
Formula: Estimated Material Cost = Total Square Feet Needed × Cost Per Square Foot ($)
When to Use This Calculator:
This calculator is ideal for:
Homeowners planning DIY flooring projects.
Contractors estimating material for clients.
Anyone needing to budget for new vinyl plank flooring.
By accurately calculating your needs, you can avoid under-ordering (leading to project delays and potentially incompatible dye lots) or over-ordering (leading to unnecessary expense).
function calculateFlooring() {
var roomLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomLength").value);
var roomWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomWidth").value);
var plankWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("plankWidth").value);
var plankLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("plankLength").value);
var wasteFactor = parseFloat(document.getElementById("wasteFactor").value);
var costPerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("costPerSqFt").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var totalSqFtDisplay = document.getElementById("totalSqFt");
var totalPlanksDisplay = document.getElementById("totalPlanks");
var materialCostDisplay = document.getElementById("materialCost");
var calculatedAreaDisplay = document.getElementById("calculatedArea");
var areaWithWasteDisplay = document.getElementById("areaWithWaste");
// Clear previous results
resultDiv.style.display = "none";
totalSqFtDisplay.textContent = "";
totalPlanksDisplay.textContent = "";
materialCostDisplay.textContent = "";
calculatedAreaDisplay.textContent = "";
areaWithWasteDisplay.textContent = "";
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(roomLength) || roomLength <= 0 ||
isNaN(roomWidth) || roomWidth <= 0 ||
isNaN(plankWidth) || plankWidth <= 0 ||
isNaN(plankLength) || plankLength <= 0 ||
isNaN(wasteFactor) || wasteFactor < 0 ||
isNaN(costPerSqFt) || costPerSqFt < 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Waste factor can be 0 or more, and cost per sq ft can be 0 or more.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var roomAreaSqFt = roomLength * roomWidth;
var plankWidthFt = plankWidth / 12;
var plankLengthFt = plankLength / 12;
var singlePlankAreaSqFt = plankWidthFt * plankLengthFt;
var areaWithWasteSqFt = roomAreaSqFt * (1 + wasteFactor / 100);
var totalSqFtNeeded = areaWithWasteSqFt; // This is the final quantity to purchase
var totalPlanksNeeded = totalSqFtNeeded / singlePlankAreaSqFt;
totalPlanksNeeded = Math.ceil(totalPlanksNeeded); // Round up to the nearest whole plank
var estimatedMaterialCost = totalSqFtNeeded * costPerSqFt;
// Display results
calculatedAreaDisplay.textContent = roomAreaSqFt.toFixed(2);
areaWithWasteDisplay.textContent = areaWithWasteSqFt.toFixed(2);
totalSqFtDisplay.textContent = totalSqFtNeeded.toFixed(2);
totalPlanksDisplay.textContent = totalPlanksNeeded.toLocaleString(); // Use toLocaleString for better readability
materialCostDisplay.textContent = "$" + estimatedMaterialCost.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
}