How much vinyl flooring do I need?
Luxury vinyl planks are sold in packs that typically cover 2–2.5 m². To find how many you need, divide the floor area by the area of one plank, add an allowance for cuts and round up to whole packs. Because vinyl is thin and cuts cleanly with a knife, waste is a little lower than with tiles: around 7% for a straight pattern, 12% diagonal and 15% herringbone.
Choose your product type first, because it changes what else goes on the list. Click vinyl and SPC float like laminate; glue-down LVT is bonded to the subfloor with a dispersion adhesive and needs no underlay.
The subfloor matters more than with laminate
Vinyl is thin and flexible, so it shows every bump, ridge and hollow underneath — rigid-core SPC less so, glue-down LVT most of all. Manufacturers usually ask for a flatness of a few millimetres over two metres. If you are laying vinyl on a sand-cement screed, the full calculator recommends a thin self-levelling layer on top and adds the compound and primer for it.
The vinyl plank formula
packs = ⌈ A × 10⁶ ÷ (L × W) × (1 + waste) ÷ planks per pack ⌉
A is the floor area in m², L and W the plank length and width in mm. Glue-down adhesive = A × 0.35 kg/m² × 1.05.
Worked example
- Room 5.0 × 3.6 m = 18 m², click vinyl 1220 × 180 mm, 10 planks per pack (2.196 m²), straight, 7% waste.
- N_net = 18 × 10⁶ ÷ (1220 × 180) = 81.97 planks; with waste 87.70 planks.
- Packs: ⌈87.70 ÷ 10⌉ = 9 packs = 90 planks = 19.76 m².
- As glue-down LVT of the same size: adhesive 18 × 0.35 × 1.05 = 6.6 kg → 2 buckets of 5 kg (less left over than one 15 kg bucket).
Underlay, adhesive and vapour barrier
Depending on the product, the list includes:
- Click vinyl without attached underlay: a thin, dense vinyl underlay, area plus 5%.
- Click vinyl or SPC with attached underlay: nothing extra — tick “integrated underlay”.
- Glue-down LVT: dispersion adhesive at about 0.35 kg/m², in 5 kg or 15 kg buckets.
- On screed or concrete: a 0.2 mm PE vapour barrier with tape, unless the product is glued down.
Expansion gap and finishing
Floating vinyl still moves with temperature, so leave a gap of about 5 mm at the walls (check your product) and cover it with skirting. The calculator rounds skirting to whole boards with 10% for mitres and adds a transition profile for each doorway. In conservatories and rooms with large south-facing windows, follow the manufacturer’s advice on maximum room size and expansion joints.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of vinyl plank do I need for 20 m²?
With 2.2 m² packs and 7% waste, 20 m² × 1.07 = 21.4 m², which is 10 packs. Enter your exact plank size and pack contents for a precise figure.
Does vinyl flooring need underlay?
Click vinyl without an attached backing usually does, and it must be a thin, firm vinyl-specific underlay. Glue-down LVT never does.
Can I lay vinyl over tiles?
Often yes, if the tiles are sound and the grout lines are filled or levelled so they do not show through. A thin self-levelling layer is the usual solution.
What is the difference between SPC and LVT?
SPC has a rigid stone-polymer core that hides minor subfloor imperfections and floats with a click joint. LVT is more flexible and is available as click or glue-down.