Measure once, order with a plan

Plan the rest of the project

Use a project checklist to turn your calculation into a complete order, with separate lines for materials, finishing pieces and compatible tools.

• Painting supplies checklist: separate colours, primer and applicators, with a worked room order.
• Paint for multiple rooms: combine matching paint requirements before choosing tins, with a two-room buying comparison.
• Laminate flooring shopping list: plan packs, underlay, skirting and doorway transitions.

Start with the measurements

How to measure a room for paint, flooring and tiles walks through a 4 by 3 metre room. See why floor area, wall area and perimeter are different inputs, how to subtract openings, and what to do with alcoves or an L-shaped floor.

• For flat surfaces, use the area calculator.
• For walls, carry the net area into the paint calculator.
• For flooring, check the product pack size in the laminate calculator.

Turn the requirement into an order

Waste allowance and pack rounding explained follows an 18 square metre floor from measured area to nine packs. It separates cutting allowance from the extra material caused by whole-pack sales, and shows how to avoid counting either twice.

• Tiles need a layout and a tile and box calculation.
• Roll products need different treatment: compare the carpet and wallpaper calculators.
• For a wider project, browse all material calculators.

Keep a record you can check

Write down the measured size, the unit, the product coverage or pack size, and the allowance you selected. Keep the unrounded requirement alongside the final order. If a product changes, you can replace its coverage or pack size without measuring the whole room again.

The examples use stated assumptions to demonstrate the calculation. Check your chosen product and layout before ordering. Our methodology explains how the calculators handle formulas, sources and rounding.