Flooring quantities · room guide
How much flooring do I need for a 5m x 3m room?
A 5m x 3m room has a floor area of 15 m², or about 161 sq ft. With the usual 10% allowance for offcuts you need 16.5 m² of laminate, vinyl or wood flooring, which is 8 packs of 2.2 m². For herringbone or a diagonal layout allow 15% and buy 17.25 m².
Last reviewed on .
Floor area
15 m²
161 sq ft
To buy, straight lay
16.5 m²
with 10% extra
To buy, herringbone
17.25 m²
with 15% extra
Packs of 2.2 m²
8
straight lay
Packs of flooring for a 5m x 3m room
Pack sizes vary by product, so check the m² printed on the box.
| Pack covers | Packs, straight (10%) | Packs, herringbone (15%) | Left over, straight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m² | 11 | 12 | 1.5 m² |
| 2 m² | 9 | 9 | 3 m² |
| 2.2 m² | 8 | 8 | 2.6 m² |
| 2.5 m² | 7 | 7 | 2.5 m² |
Floor tiles for a 5m x 3m room
Tile counts rounded up to whole tiles. Grout lines are ignored, which makes very little difference.
| Tile size | Exact cover | With 10% extra | With 15% extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 × 300 mm | 167 | 184 | 192 |
| 600 × 300 mm | 84 | 92 | 96 |
| 600 × 600 mm | 42 | 46 | 48 |
| 800 × 800 mm | 24 | 26 | 27 |
What it costs at different prices
Materials only, buying 2.2 m² packs with 10% extra. Fitting, underlay and trims are extra.
| Flooring price | Cost of packs | Floor area only |
|---|---|---|
| £15 per m² | £264.00 | £225.00 |
| £25 per m² | £440.00 | £375.00 |
| £40 per m² | £704.00 | £600.00 |
| £60 per m² | £1,056.00 | £900.00 |
Skirting, beading and door bars
The room is 16 metres around. Take off about 0.8 metres for each doorway and you need roughly 15.2 metres of beading or new skirting for one door, plus a threshold strip for each doorway.
Underlay
Underlay covers the floor area itself, so you need 15 m² with a little spare for trimming. Check if your laminate or LVT already has underlay attached before buying more, and follow the maker's guide on whether a second layer is allowed.
What whole packs leave over
The 8 packs of 2.2 m² cover 2.6 m² more than the floor, a 17% allowance, which is enough for herringbone too, so the layout does not change what you buy. Of the four pack sizes, the smallest packs (1.5 m²) leave the least over for a straight lay, 1.5 m².
Where the tiles need cutting
With 600 × 600 mm tiles, the 5 metre side would leave a 200 mm sliver after 8 whole tiles, so centre the rows instead: 7 whole tiles with a 400 mm cut at each end. The 3 metre side takes exactly 5 tiles with no cutting.
Other room sizes
- 2m x 2m room (4 m² floor)
- 3m x 2m room (6 m² floor)
- 3m x 3m room (9 m² floor)
- 4m x 3m room (12 m² floor)
- 4m x 4m room (16 m² floor)
- 5m x 4m room (20 m² floor)
- 5m x 5m room (25 m² floor)
- 6m x 4m room (24 m² floor)
- 6m x 5m room (30 m² floor)
- 6m x 6m room (36 m² floor)
Flooring calculator for any room · Paint for a 5m x 3m room · Use your own pack size and price
Common questions
How much flooring do I need for a 5m x 3m room?
The floor is 15 m². Buy 16.5 m² with 10% extra for cuts, or 17.25 m² with 15% if you are laying herringbone, chevron or on the diagonal.
How many packs of laminate for a 5m x 3m room?
With packs of 2.2 m², you need 8 packs for a straight lay. With 2 m² packs it is 9. Always round up to a whole pack.
How many 600 x 600 tiles for a 5m x 3m room?
Each tile covers 0.36 m², so you need 42 tiles to cover the floor exactly, or 46 with 10% extra for cuts and breakages.
What is 5m x 3m in square feet?
15 m² is about 161 sq ft. One square metre is 10.76 square feet.
Sources and assumptions
- A rectangular room with square corners. For L-shaped rooms, split the floor into rectangles and add them up.
- 10% extra for a straight lay and 15% for herringbone, chevron or diagonal layouts, which are common fitting allowances. Your fitter may advise more for awkward rooms.
These are estimates. Check the coverage on the box and the fitting guide for your flooring.