How much material do you need?

Measure your room's square footage (width × length in feet). Divide by the coverage per box — typically 20 sq ft for hardwood, 24 sq ft for luxury vinyl plank (LVP), or 21.4 sq ft for laminate. Add 10% for waste from cuts and breaks. For example, a 12×15 ft room (180 sq ft) needs 180 ÷ 20 = 9 boxes + 1 for waste = 10 boxes of hardwood flooring.

Calculate total wall area: room perimeter × ceiling height, minus windows and doors. One gallon of interior paint covers approximately 350 sq ft on smooth surfaces. For a 12×15 ft room with 8 ft ceilings: perimeter = 54 ft × 8 ft = 432 sq ft ÷ 350 = 1.2 gallons. Round up to 2 gallons for one coat. Double for two coats or dark-over-light color changes.

Calculate volume in cubic feet: length × width × depth (convert inches to feet by dividing by 12). One 80 lb bag of concrete yields 0.6 cubic feet. One 60 lb bag yields 0.45 cubic feet. For a 4×4 ft pad that is 4 inches thick: 4 × 4 × 0.33 = 5.3 cu ft ÷ 0.6 = 9 bags. Add 10% waste = 10 bags of 80 lb concrete mix.

The 10% waste factor is the industry standard for straight-lay flooring and tile. For diagonal layouts or herringbone patterns, use 15–20%. For paint and concrete, waste is minimal and we use lower defaults. Always buy at least one extra unit — returning unopened materials is easier than making a second trip.

Measure the floor area in square feet. Divide by the box coverage — typically 15 sq ft per box for 12×12 inch tiles, or 10 sq ft per box for 3×6 subway tiles. Add 10–15% for cuts and breakage (15% for complex patterns). For a 100 sq ft bathroom: 100 ÷ 15 = 7 boxes + 1 for waste = 8 boxes of 12×12 floor tile.

Calculate total wall or ceiling area in square feet. Divide by 32 (each standard 4×8 ft sheet covers 32 sq ft). Add 10% for waste. For example, 400 sq ft of wall area ÷ 32 = 12.5 sheets → round up to 13, plus 10% waste = about 14 sheets of drywall.

No — the estimates cover materials only. Labor costs vary significantly by region, contractor, and project complexity. Average installation costs: flooring $3–$8/sq ft, tile $5–$15/sq ft, painting $2–$6/sq ft, concrete $8–$18/sq ft. Use the 'Get 3 Quotes' feature to get free estimates from local licensed contractors.

Prices vary widely by material quality. Hardwood flooring ranges from $45/box (builder-grade oak) to $160/box (exotic/wide-plank). Interior paint ranges from $22/gallon (flat/basic) to $85/gallon (premium brands like Benjamin Moore or Farrow & Ball). Concrete ranges from $6/bag (standard mix) to $12/bag (fast-setting/fiber-reinforced). Our calculator shows budget, mid-range, and premium tiers.