How Much Flooring for a Bedroom?
Quick answer: a 12×12 bedroom is 144 sq ft; with 10% waste that's 158 sq ft — about 4 boxes if a box covers 40 sq ft.
- Measure the room
- Include the closet
- Waste factors
- Boxes by room size
- Room size to area
- Worked example: 12×12 bedroom
- FAQ
Measure the room
Room area = length × width. A 12×12 bedroom is 144 sq ft. For odd shapes, split the floor into rectangles, add them up, then apply waste — the square footage calculator does this for L-shaped and angled rooms.
Include the closet
Measure the closet floor too if you're flooring it. Add the closet area to the room area before applying waste, or order a separate strip. Skipping the closet is the classic reason people run out of planks mid-install.
Waste factors
Add 10% waste for a simple rectangular bedroom with straight lay. Go to 15% for diagonal installation, closets with odd shapes, or rooms with extra doorways and angles that force cuts.
| Bedroom size | Room area | With 10% waste | Boxes @ 40 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 | 100 sq ft | 110 sq ft | 3 |
| 12×12 | 144 sq ft | 158 sq ft | 4 |
| 12×15 | 180 sq ft | 198 sq ft | 5 |
| 14×16 | 224 sq ft | 246 sq ft | 7 |
Boxes by room size
Divide the total (room + waste) by the box coverage and round up. Laminate boxes cover about 40 sq ft; LVP about 50 sq ft. Carpet is sold by the roll, so divide by the roll width for linear yards instead.
Worked example: a 12×12 bedroom
- Room = 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft
- + 10% waste = 158 sq ft
- ÷ 40 sq ft/box = 3.95 → 4 boxes
- With a 4×2 closet: +8 sq ft → 166 sq ft → 5 boxes
FAQ
Measure length × width, add 10% waste, and divide by box coverage. A 12×12 bedroom is 144 sq ft; with waste that's 158 sq ft — about 4 boxes at 40 sq ft per box.
About 158 sq ft with waste, or roughly 4 boxes of laminate at 40 sq ft per box, 3 boxes of LVP at 50 sq ft, or 1.4 rolls of 12-ft-wide carpet.
10% for a simple rectangular bedroom with straight lay; 15% for diagonal installation or odd-shaped closets.
About 3 boxes at 40 sq ft per box — 100 sq ft plus 10% waste = 110 ÷ 40 = 2.75, rounded up to 3.
Yes — measure the closet floor too. Add it before applying waste, or order a separate strip. Skipping it is the classic reason people run out of planks.