Flooring for a 20×24 room by waste allowance
| Waste | Sq ft to buy | Boxes (20 sq ft) | Boxes (24 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 504 sq ft | 26 | 21 |
| 10% | 528 sq ft | 27 | 22 |
| 15% | 552 sq ft | 28 | 23 |
| 20% | 576 sq ft | 29 | 24 |
A 480 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
20 ft × 24 ft = 480 sq ft
× 1.10 waste = 528 sq ft
÷ 20 sq ft/box = 27 boxes (rounded up)
Also plan 480 sq ft of underlayment if your planks don't have it attached, and about 88 linear feet of baseboard or quarter-round for the perimeter (less door openings).
Common questions
How many square feet is a 20x24 room?
480 square feet.
How many boxes of flooring for a 20x24 room?
27 boxes of 20 sq ft each with 10% waste, or 22 boxes of 24 sq ft.
Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the flooring calculator guide.