How Much Flooring Wastage Do I Need to Account For?

When buying flooring, it's important to account for wastage—extra material needed to cover cuts, off-cuts, or mistakes. Wastage ensures you don’t run out of flooring during installation, especially when dealing with tricky areas like corners, alcoves, or doorframes.

The amount of wastage depends on the type of flooring and the layout of your space. Here's a quick guide:

• Laminate or Vinyl Flooring: Allow for 5-10% wastage. These materials are easy to work with, so less is wasted.
• Engineered Wood Flooring: Allow for 7-12% wastage.
• Solid Wood Flooring: Allow for 10-15% wastage due to precise cutting needs.
• Parquet or Herringbone Flooring: Allow for 15-20% wastage, as patterns require precise cuts.

To calculate wastage, measure your room in square metres (length × width). Multiply this by the recommended percentage for your flooring type. For example, if your room is 20m² and you need 10% wastage, add 2m², ordering 22m² total.

Running out of flooring can lead to mismatched batches, so ordering extra is always wise. For water-based underfloor heating (compatible with Flooring365.co.uk flooring), consider additional wastage for pipe cuts.

Need help? Contact us at 0333 002 0175 or on our live chat at flooring365.co.uk