Rooms
Prices
Removal and extras
How the numbers are worked out
Net area = the sum of length × width for each room. Order quantity = net area × (1 + waste %), rounded up to a whole square foot. Material is priced on the order quantity (you pay for the waste), installation on the net area you actually cover. Removal and underlayment are priced on their own areas, trim per piece. If the total is below your minimum job charge, a minimum charge adjustment brings it up to the minimum.
Example with the defaults: 20 × 15 plus 12 × 10 is 420 sq ft. With 10% waste you order 462 sq ft. Material 462 × $3.25 is $1,501.50, installation 420 × $3 is $1,260, and three transitions at $45 add $135, so the job comes to $2,896.50 before tax. Rates are examples; use your own.
Tips for flooring estimates
- Show material and installation as separate lines, or state clearly that the price includes both and the product by name and color.
- Price removal of old flooring, underlayment or subfloor repair and furniture moving as their own lines; they change the time more than the flooring itself.
- Note the waste percentage and the number of boxes. If the customer supplies the material, say you do not warranty it.
- Check your rates cover your costs and target margin with the job price calculator and fine-tune waste with the material waste calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate how much flooring you need?
Multiply length by width for each room and add the rooms together to get net square feet. Then add a waste allowance: roughly 5 to 10 percent for straight lay, 10 to 15 percent for diagonal, herringbone or patterned layouts. Round up to whole boxes using the coverage printed on the carton.
How much waste should I add to a flooring estimate?
A common rule of thumb is 5 to 10 percent for simple rooms and straight plank or tile layouts, and 10 to 15 percent for diagonal, herringbone or rooms with many cuts. Check the manufacturer's guidance and keep a few spare boxes from the same lot for future repairs. The default on this page is 10 percent and is an example, not a rule.
How do flooring installers price a job?
Most quote an installed price per square foot for labor, plus material per square foot (or a materials allowance), then add separate lines for removing old flooring, underlayment or subfloor prep, trim and transitions, and furniture moving. Prices vary by material and region, so the defaults here are examples, not market prices.
Can I send this as an estimate?
Yes. Click Turn into an estimate. The flooring material, installation, removal, underlayment and extras become line items in the free Estimate & Invoice Maker, where you add your logo and customer details and download a PDF. Your business details from earlier drafts are kept.
Estimates for planning only. Rates shown are examples, not market prices; use your own.
Related: Free flooring estimate template · Roofing estimate calculator · Job price calculator