How to Measure for Your New Flooring: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Measuring your room properly is one of the most important parts of buying new flooring. Get it right and you can order with confidence, avoid delays and reduce the risk of waste or extra costs later on.
Whether you're shopping for laminate flooring, real wood flooring or another flooring type, this guide will show you how to measure your room accurately and work out how much flooring you need.
Quick answer:
Measure the length and width of your room in metres, multiply them together to get the area in m², then add a waste allowance before rounding up to full packs.
Step 1: Measure the shape of your room
Start by looking at the shape of the room. If it is a simple square or rectangle, you can measure the full length and width in one go. If the room has alcoves, bay windows, recesses or awkward corners, split it into smaller sections and measure each one separately.
- Measure the length of the room in metres
- Measure the width of the room in metres
- For unusual rooms, divide the space into simple shapes and measure each part
Top tip: Always measure to the widest points, including into doorways and recesses where the flooring will continue.
Step 2: Work out the total area in m²
Once you have your measurements, use this formula:
Length × Width = Area (m²)
Example:
- 4.2m × 3.5m = 14.7m²
If your room has more than one section, calculate each section individually and then add them together.
Example with two sections:
- Main area: 4m × 3m = 12m²
- Alcove: 1m × 1.5m = 1.5m²
- Total area = 13.5m²
Step 3: Add a waste allowance
You should always allow extra for cuts, mistakes and offcuts. This is especially important for patterned or herringbone layouts.
- Standard plank flooring: add 5–10%
- Herringbone or more complex layouts: add 10–15%
This extra allowance gives you a safer margin and helps ensure you do not run short partway through fitting.
Example:
- Measured area = 14.7m²
- Add 10% waste = 16.17m²
Step 4: Round up to full packs
Flooring is usually sold in packs, with each pack covering a set number of square metres. Once you know how much you need, round up to the nearest full pack.
Example:
- You need 16.17m²
- Each pack covers 2.4m²
- 16.17 ÷ 2.4 = 6.74 packs
- You would order 7 packs
Always round up rather than down. Ordering too little can cause delays and may lead to batch variation if you need to reorder later.
Quick measuring example
Let’s say your room measures 5m by 4m:
- 5m × 4m = 20m²
- Add 10% waste = 22m²
- If each pack covers 2.2m², you need 10 packs
This is a simple way to sense-check your order before checkout.
Common measuring mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting alcoves or recesses — these small areas add up
- Not adding waste allowance — especially risky with herringbone or tricky cuts
- Rounding down — always round up to full packs
- Measuring in the wrong units — use metres for easiest m² calculations
- Ignoring room shape — break awkward rooms into smaller rectangles
Do you need to measure underlay too?
Yes — if you are ordering underlay, you will usually need enough to cover the same area as your flooring.
If you still need it, browse our underlay collection to find the right option for your floor.
What if you are measuring for herringbone flooring?
Herringbone layouts usually create more waste than standard plank flooring, so it is wise to allow a little more. In most cases, a 10–15% waste allowance is the safer option.
If you are still deciding on style, take a look at our laminate flooring and real wood flooring ranges.
Still unsure? Order samples first
If you are not yet ready to calculate your final order, we recommend starting with samples so you can compare colours and finishes in your space.
Final thoughts
Measuring your room properly is the best way to avoid ordering too little or too much flooring. Keep it simple: measure carefully, calculate the total area, add a waste allowance and round up to full packs.
Taking a few extra minutes now can save a lot of hassle later — and helps make sure your new flooring project gets off to the right start.
