Getting your measurements right is the most important step before ordering flooring. Measure wrong and you’ll either run short mid-install or waste money on excess stock. Here’s how to measure any room shape accurately — plus a free calculator to figure out exactly how much flooring you need.
In This Guide
1. The Basic Formula
For any rectangular room, the formula is simple:
Room Area (m²) = Length (m) × Width (m) — then add 10% for wastage. That’s it. A 5m × 4m room = 20m² + 10% = 22m² to order.
Always measure in metres, not centimetres. If your tape reads 4,350mm, that’s 4.35m. Measure at the longest and widest points of the room — include alcoves, bay windows, and any recesses.
2. How to Measure Every Room Shape
Simple Rectangle
Measure the length and width at the widest points. Multiply them together. Done.
L-Shaped Room
Split the room into two rectangles. Measure each one separately and add the areas together. It doesn’t matter where you draw the split line — the total will be the same.
U-Shaped or Complex Shapes
Same principle — divide the room into smaller rectangles. Measure each section, calculate areas, and add them up. For very complex shapes, draw a rough floor plan on paper and label each measurement as you go.
Hallways and Corridors
Measure length and width. If the hallway widens at a doorway or has a cupboard alcove, measure the widest point. Include the area under any doors that open into the hallway.
Open-Plan Living
Treat the entire space as one large rectangle (longest wall × widest wall). This will slightly overestimate if there are indentations, but that extra goes towards your wastage allowance.
Measure Twice, Order Once
Take every measurement at least twice. Measure at floor level, not at hip height — walls are rarely perfectly straight. If your two measurements differ by more than 20mm, take a third and use the largest number.
Multiple Rooms
If you’re running the same flooring through several rooms, measure each room separately and add the totals. Apply the 10% wastage allowance to the combined total, not each room individually.
| Room | Typical Size | With 10% Wastage |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 9–12 m² | 10–14 m² |
| Master bedroom | 14–20 m² | 16–22 m² |
| Living room | 20–35 m² | 22–39 m² |
| Kitchen / dining | 12–20 m² | 14–22 m² |
| Hallway | 5–10 m² | 6–11 m² |
| Whole house (3-bed) | 80–120 m² | 88–132 m² |
3. How Much Extra to Order
You always need more flooring than the bare room area. Here’s how much extra to add based on your situation:
| Scenario | Extra to Add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rectangular rooms | 10% | End cuts, starter offcuts, minor mistakes |
| L-shaped or angled rooms | 12–15% | More offcuts from irregular edges |
| Diagonal installation | 15–20% | Angled cuts create more waste |
| Herringbone pattern | 15–20% | Complex pattern = more cuts and alignment waste |
| First-time DIY | 12–15% | Allow for learning curve mistakes |
| Spare planks for future repairs | +2–3% | Keep a few planks from the same batch for repairs |
Always Order from the Same Batch
Flooring colour can vary slightly between production batches. If you run short and need to reorder, the new batch may not perfectly match your installed floor. It’s always cheaper to order 10% extra upfront than to deal with a colour mismatch later.
4. Flooring Calculator
How Much Flooring Do You Need?
You Need to Order
22 m²
Including wastage allowance
Room area20 m²
Wastage (10%)2 m²
Estimated material cost$0
Total to order22 m²
For multiple rooms: Add each room’s area together before applying wastage. For example, three rooms of 15m², 12m², and 8m² = 35m² × 1.10 = 38.5m² to order.
5. Pro Measuring Tips
1
Measure at Floor Level
Walls bow, lean, and aren’t straight. Always measure at the floor where the flooring actually sits. Use a laser distance measurer for accuracy if you have one.
2
Include Every Recess
Measure into alcoves, bay windows, cupboard openings, and under thresholds. Flooring needs to run into these areas. If a recess is small (under 0.5m deep), just extend your main measurement to include it.
3
Draw a Floor Plan
Sketch each room on paper with measurements labelled. This helps when ordering and during installation. Include door positions, fixed obstacles (kitchen islands, fireplaces), and the direction you plan to lay the planks.
4
Measure Doorways Separately
If flooring continues through doorways into the next room, measure each room individually. Don’t forget the doorway itself — it’s typically 0.1–0.2m² of extra floor.
5
Round Up, Not Down
Always round your final number up to the nearest whole square metre. If the calculator says 37.2m², order 38m². The cost of a single extra square metre is tiny compared to running short.
Need Help With Measurements?
Get in Touch →
Send us your room dimensions and we’ll confirm exactly how much flooring you need — free of charge.
6. FAQs
Do I subtract areas for kitchen islands or fireplaces?
Generally no. The floor area under a fixed island or fireplace hearth might not get flooring, but the extra goes towards your wastage allowance. Only subtract large fixed areas over 2m² (like a built-in wardrobe with no flooring underneath).
How do I convert feet and inches to metres?
Multiply feet by 0.3048 to get metres. For example, 12 feet = 3.66m. Or use a metric tape measure from Bunnings — they cost under $10 and make everything easier.
Should I measure each room or the whole house at once?
Measure each room individually, then add the totals. This gives you a more accurate number than trying to measure the entire house as one space, especially with hallways and odd-shaped areas.
What if my room isn’t a perfect rectangle?
Most rooms aren’t. Measure at the longest and widest points — the slight overestimate covers the irregular edges. For dramatically irregular shapes (triangular rooms, curved walls), divide the space into approximate rectangles and add the areas.
Can I return unused flooring?
Policies vary by supplier. At Hippo Floors, we recommend keeping spare planks for future repairs rather than returning them — they’ll be from the same batch as your installed floor, which is invaluable if you ever need to replace a damaged plank.
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