The waste factor is the extra flooring you buy to cover cuts, mistakes and damaged pieces. Too little and you're back at the store mid-project, sometimes finding your color is gone.
| Layout or situation | Extra to buy |
|---|---|
| Straight planks, simple rectangular room | 5–10% |
| Rooms with many corners, closets or doorways | 10–15% |
| Tile laid diagonally | 15% |
| Herringbone or chevron | 15–20% |
| First-time DIY install | Add 5% to the above |
The end of each row gets cut to fit, and the leftover piece isn't always long enough to start the next row. Diagonal and patterned layouts create angled cuts at every wall, which is why they need more. A few boards in any batch may also arrive chipped or warped.
A 168 sq ft bedroom with straight planks: 168 × 1.10 = 184.8 sq ft to buy. The same room laid in herringbone: 168 × 1.20 = 201.6 sq ft.
Store a few leftover pieces or one unopened box. If a board is damaged years later, you'll have an exact match.
Vinyl plank flooring · Underlayment · Install kit · Tape measure
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