The exact square footage is the minimum, not the order.
Measure the area
Measure each room and find its square footage. Then mark the areas that need special cuts, because these cuts make more waste. Our guides warn that an order for the exact square footage can leave the job short after cuts and mistakes.
Add a waste factor
Cut waste during install can be more than you expect, especially with special cuts. A piece can also be cut incorrectly. Our guides give these overage figures:
| Material | Overage our guide gives | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring in general | At least 5% more than you think you need | 6 Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Flooring |
| Hardwood | 5% to 10% more than required | How Much Does It Cost to Install Hardwood Flooring? |
| Laminate | 10% more than the square footage of the room | How to Install Laminate Flooring |
Plan roll goods by width
For carpet rolls and vinyl sheet, square footage is not enough. Compare the roll width to the room width to find the number of rolls. Vinyl rolls can be 6', 12', or 13'2" wide. Broadloom carpet rolls can be 10', 12', or 13'6" wide.
A standard pattern repeat needs no extra material between rolls. A drop pattern does. Order the first roll at the length of the space. Order the second roll at that length plus one full pattern repeat. In our 15' x 20' example with 12' rolls and a 1' repeat, that is one 15' roll and one 16' roll. The extra length is insurance for an exact pattern match.
Send the room sizes and the product. We will quote the full quantity with the overage.
Keep attic stock
Keep the leftover material after the install. If part of the floor gets damage later, you can replace it with the same material. This is called attic stock. For patterned carpet, our pattern guide quotes Joy Carpets: give the installer the width, construction, pattern match dimensions, and a sample, so the installer can estimate the quantity.