Flooring for a 16×20 room by waste allowance
| Waste | Sq ft to buy | Boxes (20 sq ft) | Boxes (24 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 336 sq ft | 17 | 14 |
| 10% | 352 sq ft | 18 | 15 |
| 15% | 368 sq ft | 19 | 16 |
| 20% | 384 sq ft | 20 | 16 |
A 320 sq ft room is typical of a large living area or basement. Box sizes vary a lot between products (roughly 15–30 sq ft), so enter your exact box coverage in the calculator above.
The math
16 ft × 20 ft = 320 sq ft
× 1.10 waste = 352 sq ft
÷ 20 sq ft/box = 18 boxes (rounded up)
Also plan 320 sq ft of underlayment if your planks don't have it attached, and about 72 linear feet of baseboard or quarter-round for the perimeter (less door openings).
Common questions
How many square feet is a 16x20 room?
320 square feet.
How many boxes of flooring for a 16x20 room?
18 boxes of 20 sq ft each with 10% waste, or 15 boxes of 24 sq ft.
Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the flooring calculator guide.