Measure complex rooms in sections
For L-shaped rooms, closets, alcoves or irregular spaces, divide the area into rectangles, calculate each one and add them together.
Example
A room that is 12 ft long and 10 ft wide is 120 square feet. With a 10% waste allowance for cuts, the material planning area becomes 132 square feet.
When to add waste
Add a waste allowance when the area will be used for flooring, tile, decking or other materials that require cuts. For simple room-size reporting, leave waste at 0%.
Common mistakes
Measure in one unit system and keep length and width consistent. For irregular rooms, missing a small alcove or closet can understate the order quantity.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17