How to Measure the Square Footage of a Room

How to Measure the Square Footage of a Room

Choosing the perfect new floor is exciting, but before you dive into styles and colors, there's one crucial step: learn how to measure the square footage of a room.

Table of Contents

This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to measure your room like a pro, ensuring you order the right amount of flooring material.

Whether you're installing hardwood, vinyl, carpet, or tile, knowing how to measure the space properly can save you from costly mistakes and wasted material.

 

What You'll Need

  • 📏 Tape measure (preferably at least 25 feet long)
  • 📄 Pen & paper or phone (to notate measurements)
  • 🔢 Our online flooring calculator (it's free and easy)

 

Let's Get Measuring

Now that you’ve gathered your tools, it’s time to measure your space with confidence.

Whether your room is a perfect rectangle or has multiple sections, the process is simple: break it down into smaller shapes to measure and add the totals together. 

We’ll walk you through it step by step. You'll get accurate results and order the right amount of flooring, the first time.

#1 - Clear the Room

When possible, remove all furniture and anything else that might obstruct your measurements.

#2 - Measure the Length and Width

For rectangular rooms, this is fairly straightforward. Measure the longest wall (length) and then the next-longest wall (width).

Pro Tip: Take measurements at several points along the wall to account for any unevenness.

#3 - Factor in Closets and Openings

If your room has closets, alcoves, or other large openings, measure their length and width as well. You'll subtract these areas from the total room measurement later.

#4 - Measuring Irregular Shapes

For rooms with odd shapes, divide them into smaller rectangular sections and measure each one individually.

Add the areas of each section together to get the total square footage.

#5 - Measuring Multiple Spaces For Flooring

When you are buying flooring for multiple spaces, start by measuring each space as explained above.

If you are installing the same type of flooring in each space, simply add the sq ft for each area together for your total.

However, if you are buying different types of flooring for different areas, then you'll want to make note of the separate totals for each area.

Our flooring calculator can help with calculating the square footage for up to three spaces.

 

Mastering the Math

Once you have your measurements, it's time to calculate the square footage of your space. Here's the formula:

Length (ft) x Width (ft) = Square Footage (sq ft)

Example:

If your room measures 12 feet long and 10 feet wide, the area would be:

  • 12 ft x 10 ft = 120 sq ft.

If your space includes alcoves, closets, or other usable sections, measure those areas separately and add them to your total.

Example:

  • Main room: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
  • Closet: 3 ft × 2 ft = 6 sq ft
  • Total area = 126 sq ft

If your space includes openings (like doorways to another room where flooring won’t be installed), measure their dimensions and subtract them if needed.

Example:

  • Main room: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
  • Door opening: 3 ft × 1 ft = 3 sq ft
  • 126 sq ft – 3 sq ft = 123 sq ft to cover

 

Bonus Tip: Account for Waste

During installation, mistakes or damage may happen. To account for this, it's best practice to calculate in waste factor.

Generally, adding 10% to your total square footage is a good rule of thumb. This waste factor is optional, but strongly recommended. 

This ensures you have enough material to complete your project. Needing to stop mid-installation and order more flooring can cause delay and will increase your budget. There's also the risk the exact color you ordered will no longer be available at that point.

Here are some examples:

 

Online Flooring Calculator

We've created a user-friendly online flooring calculator to help make the measuring and calculating process easier.

Simply input your room dimensions and any odd-shaped areas, and our calculator will generate the total square footage needed for your project.

We've also included a calculation to factor for waste. 

 

Conclusion

You're ready to shop with confidence!

By following these steps and utilizing our online calculator, you'll be a flooring measurement maestro in no time.

We put together this video for more help with measuring your space.

Now, with the correct square footage in hand, you can browse our extensive selection of flooring and find the perfect fit for your dream space!

 

F.A.Q.s

Here are the most common questions we've heard from customers about measuring the square footage of a space:

"Should I measure wall-to-wall or baseboard-to-baseboard?"

Measure from wall to wall, not baseboard to baseboard. Flooring typically goes under the baseboards or quarter round, so wall-to-wall gives a more accurate result.

"Can I round up my measurements?"

Yes, it’s recommended to round up to the nearest inch or half foot for each measurement. This helps account for slight errors and makes room for the waste factor you'll add later.

"What if two connected rooms will have different flooring?"

Measure each room separately and calculate square footage based on the specific flooring planned for each space. This keeps your material estimates accurate and prevents over-ordering.

Back to blog