Measuring a room accurately before ordering flooring is one of the most important steps in any flooring project. Get it wrong and you could end up short of material mid-install, or waste money on excess stock you can't return. With a tape measure, a notepad, and a few simple techniques, most homeowners can take reliable measurements themselves — though a professional flooring installer can always double-check before you order.
What You'll Need
Before you start, gather these basic tools:
- Steel tape measure (at least 5 m long — fabric tapes can stretch and give inaccurate readings)
- Pencil and graph paper or a simple sketch pad
- Calculator (or your phone)
- A helper for larger rooms
Step 1 — Sketch the Room First
Draw a rough floor plan of the space, including any alcoves, bay windows, wardrobes, or irregular angles. Don't worry about it being to scale — you just need a reference to write measurements on. Label each wall and note any fixed obstacles like kitchen islands or built-in cabinetry.
Step 2 — Measure Length and Width
For a rectangular room, measure the longest length and the widest width at floor level. Always measure at the widest points, even if part of the room is narrower — you need to account for the full footprint.
For L-shaped or irregular rooms, break the space into separate rectangles on your sketch. Measure each rectangle individually, then add the areas together.
Measuring Tips
- Measure from wall to wall, not from skirting board to skirting board — flooring typically runs under or up to the skirting.
- Take each measurement twice to confirm accuracy.
- Record all measurements in metres (e.g. 4.2 m × 3.6 m).
Step 3 — Calculate the Area
For each rectangle:
Area (m²) = Length (m) × Width (m)
For an L-shaped room, add the areas of each section together.
| Room Section | Length | Width | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main room | 4.2 m | 3.6 m | 15.12 m² |
| Alcove | 1.5 m | 1.2 m | 1.80 m² |
| Total | 16.92 m² |
Step 4 — Add a Waste Allowance
Never order the exact calculated area. You'll need extra material for:
- Cutting and trimming around edges, doorways, and obstacles
- Pattern matching (tiles, timber planks, or carpet with a repeat pattern)
- Future repairs — keeping a few spare pieces is always wise
As a general guide:
- Straight-lay carpet or vinyl sheet: add 10%
- Timber, laminate, or LVP planks (straight lay): add 10%
- Diagonal or herringbone plank lay: add 15%
- Tiles (straight lay): add 10%
- Tiles (diagonal lay): add 15%
- Rooms with lots of cuts (many doorways, irregular shape): add up to 20%
So for our example room of 16.92 m² with a 10% allowance:
16.92 × 1.10 = 18.61 m² — round up to 19 m² to order.
Step 5 — Account for Flooring Width and Direction
For carpet and vinyl sheet, products come in standard roll widths (commonly 3.66 m or 4 m in NZ). If your room is wider than the roll, you'll need a join — factor this into your calculation and discuss seam placement with your installer to minimise visibility.
For timber, laminate, or LVP planks, consider the direction of the boards. Running planks parallel to the longest wall generally looks best and can reduce waste. Check with your supplier about the pack sizes available — you'll need to round up to the nearest full pack.
Step 6 — Don't Forget Adjoining Areas
If you're flooring a hallway, bathroom, or walk-in wardrobe that connects to the main room, measure each space separately and add them together before ordering. It's often more economical to order all material at once, and matching dye lots or batch numbers matters — especially for carpet and timber.
For wet areas like bathrooms and laundries, check that your chosen flooring product is rated for wet or high-humidity environments. BRANZ provides useful guidance on moisture management in NZ homes, and flooring in wet areas must comply with relevant NZ Building Code clauses covering internal moisture and wet areas.
Step 7 — Confirm with Your Supplier
Once you have your measurements, take your sketch and figures to your flooring supplier. Reputable NZ suppliers at stores like Mitre 10, Bunnings, or PlaceMakers can help you confirm quantities and advise on pack sizes. Many flooring brands also offer online calculators on their websites.
When to Call a Professional
While measuring is a task most homeowners can handle, there are situations where it pays to get a qualified flooring installer involved early:
- Rooms with complex shapes, multiple levels, or stairs
- Large open-plan areas where carpet seam placement is critical
- Timber floating floors over underfloor heating (specific expansion gaps and substrate checks are required)
- Any flooring work in a rental property — landlords must ensure flooring meets the Healthy Homes Standards, which include requirements for draught stopping and moisture barriers
- If you're unsure whether your subfloor is level or structurally sound before laying
A professional installer will often measure for free as part of a quote, and their experience can save you from costly ordering mistakes. You can find qualified local flooring installers on tradedirectory.co.nz.
