Home › How to measure a room for vinyl flooring

Step by step

1. Clear and sketch. Sketch each room as a simple box and note doorways, built-in cabinets and kerbs.
2. Measure length and width. Use a measuring tape or laser measure, wall to wall at floor level, in metres. Measure twice.
3. Split odd shapes. Break L-shaped or irregular rooms into rectangles and measure each one.
4. Decide what is excluded. Leave out areas under fixed carpentry that will not get flooring. Ask your installer if unsure.
5. Add wastage. Add a cutting buffer on top of the measured area before ordering.

Worked example

A room measuring 4.0 m by 3.5 m is 4.0 × 3.5 = 14.0 m², which is 14.0 × 10.7639 ≈ 150.7 sq ft. With an 8% buffer you would plan for 14.0 × 1.08 = 15.12 m².

m² and sq ft

Floor plans and product sheets may use either unit. 1 m² = 10.7639 sq ft, and 1 sq ft ≈ 0.0929 m². The calculator shows both.

Tips

• Measure at floor level; walls are not always straight.
• Note where the main light source is. Planks usually look best laid along the room's longest side or towards the main window, which can change wastage.
• Take photos of each room and doorway; they help the installer quote faster.

Open the calculator

More guides

• Calculator
• Skirting & capping
• Before you lay vinyl