Calculation Process

When planning a hardwood flooring project, it’s crucial to accurately estimate the amount of material required. This involves calculating the total floor area, accounting for waste, and determining the number of planks needed. Below, I’ll guide you through the calculation process and provide a simple online calculator to assist with your takeoff.

1. Calculate Floor Area

To determine the total area of the floor, use the following formula:

Total Area = Length × Width

Example Calculation:

• Room Length: 20 feet
• Room Width: 15 feet

Total Area = 20 ft × 15 ft = 300 sq ft

2. Account for Waste and Overlap

Add a waste factor to cover cutting and fitting:

Total Area with Waste = Total Area × (1 + Waste Factor)

Example Calculation:

• Waste Factor: 10% or 0.10

Total Area with Waste = 300 sq ft × (1 + 0.10) = 330 sq ft

3. Determine Hardwood Plank Coverage

Assuming each plank covers 10 sq ft:

Number of Planks = Total Area with Waste / Coverage per Plank

Example Calculation:

• Coverage per Plank: 10 sq ft

Number of Planks = 330 sq ft / 10 sq ft/plank = 33 planks

Online Hardwood Flooring Calculator

To simplify your calculations, use the following calculator:

Room Length (ft):

Room Width (ft):

Plank Coverage (sq ft):

Waste Factor (%):

Calculate

function calculate() {
// Get input values
const length = parseFloat(document.getElementById(‘length’).value);
const width = parseFloat(document.getElementById(‘width’).value);
const plankCoverage = parseFloat(document.getElementById(‘plankCoverage’).value);
const wasteFactor = parseFloat(document.getElementById(‘wasteFactor’).value) / 100;

// Calculate total area
const totalArea = length * width;

// Calculate total area with waste
const totalAreaWithWaste = totalArea * (1 + wasteFactor);

// Calculate number of planks
const numberOfPlanks = Math.ceil(totalAreaWithWaste / plankCoverage);

// Display results
document.getElementById(‘totalArea’).textContent = totalArea.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById(‘totalAreaWithWaste’).textContent = totalAreaWithWaste.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById(‘numberOfPlanks’).textContent = numberOfPlanks;
}