How Much Flooring for 800 Square Feet?
Boxes to order
40 boxes
800 square feet of floor, ten percent waste, boxes of 22.5 square feet.
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How that number is worked out
These are the figures this page was built with and every line the calculator produces from them. Change anything above and all of it moves.
- Floor area800 sq ft
- Coverage per box or carton22.5 sq ft
- Waste allowance10 %
Boxes to order40 boxes
| Floor area | 800 sq ft |
|---|---|
| With 10% waste | 880 sq ft |
| Boxes at 22.5 sq ft | 40 |
| Coverage bought | 900 sq ft |
| Left over | 100 sq ftkeep it for repairs |
The material list this produces
| Flooring, boxes | 40 |
|---|---|
| Underlayment, sq ft | 800 |
| Transition strips, each | 2 |
Waste allowance compared
Waste is set by how you lay it, not by how careful you are. Straight lay to herringbone, same room.
| Waste allowance | Boxes to order | With 10% waste | Left over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 38 boxes | 840 sq ft | 55 sq ft |
| 10% | 40 boxes | 880 sq ft | 100 sq ft |
| 15% | 41 boxes | 920 sq ft | 122.5 sq ft |
| 20% | 43 boxes | 960 sq ft | 167.5 sq ft |
What else matters here
Eight hundred square feet plus ten percent is 880, forty cartons, 900 bought and a hundred square feet spare.
Something has to come up first, and on eight hundred square feet the tear out is a day of work and a large pile of debris. Carpet and pad roll and cut into manageable bundles, tack strip comes up with a pry bar, staples have to be pulled. Glued down vinyl or tile is much slower and is usually where a dumpster and a rental scraper get added to the budget.
One thing to check before starting: in houses built before about 1980, nine inch and twelve inch vinyl floor tile and the black mastic under it can contain asbestos, and so can some sheet vinyl backings. Intact, it is not a hazard. Sanding, grinding or breaking it up is what releases fibers. If there is any doubt, have it tested rather than assuming, because the test is cheap and the alternative is not.
What this calculator assumes
- 10 percent waste covers a straight lay in a simple rectangle. Go to 15 for a diagonal or herringbone lay, and 20 if the room is cut up with closets and angles.
- Buy the whole job in one delivery. Dye lot and batch shade move between production runs, and a single replacement box six months later will not match.
Questions people ask
How many boxes of flooring for 800 square feet?
About 40 boxes at 22.5 square feet each, covering 800 square feet with ten percent waste.
Does old vinyl flooring contain asbestos?
It can, in houses built before about 1980, particularly nine inch tile, some twelve inch tile, the black mastic under them, and some sheet vinyl backings. Have it tested before disturbing it.
How do I remove old flooring?
Carpet and pad roll up and bundle, then pull the tack strip and staples. Glued vinyl and tile take a scraper and a lot longer, so budget for a dumpster.
The flooring calculator takes any dimensions you like and hands back the same list.