Laminate or Vinyl Plank Floor Materials List: Planks, Underlayment
A 12 × 15 ft room (180 ft²) takes 10 boxes of flooring at 20 ft² a box with 10% for cuts, 2 rolls of 100 ft² underlayment, and 7 eight-foot lengths of baseboard if you replace it. This is the full shopping list for a click-lock laminate or vinyl plank floor, with what to check before you buy.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Planks | 10 boxes of 20 ft² | Flooring calculator: 180 ft² plus 10% for cuts. Use 5% for a simple room, 15% for diagonals. Buy an extra box for repairs |
| Underlayment | 2 rolls of 100 ft² | Only if the planks do not have a pad attached. Check what the maker requires: some need a vapor barrier over concrete |
| Baseboard or quarter round | 7 boards of 8 ft | Baseboard calculator: the perimeter less two 3 ft doorways, plus 10%. Quarter round on the old baseboard hides the expansion gap |
| Transition strips | 1 for each doorway | Where the new floor meets another floor, or a threshold |
| Spacers | 1 pack | To keep the expansion gap, usually 1/4 to 1/2 inch, around the walls |
| Installation kit | Tapping block, pull bar, spacers | Cheap, and it makes the last row possible |
| Saw and knife | Saw for laminate, or a utility knife for vinyl | A jigsaw or miter saw suits laminate. Vinyl plank is scored and snapped |
| Door jamb saw | 1 | To undercut door casings so the planks slide beneath them |
Materials for other room sizes
20 ft² boxes, 10% waste, 100 ft² underlayment rolls, baseboard with two 3 ft doorways:
| Room | Boxes of planks | Underlayment rolls | Baseboard (8 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 12 ft | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 × 15 ft | 10 | 2 | 7 |
| 12 × 18 ft | 12 | 3 | 8 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 18 | 4 | 10 |
Before you buy
- Check the subfloor. It must be clean, dry and flat. Concrete needs a moisture test, and most floors need a vapor barrier. Fill dips and grind down high spots.
- Let the planks acclimate in the room, in their boxes, for the time the maker states before you lay them.
- Pick the direction. Planks usually run along the longest wall, or toward the main light. Check the width of the last row before you start: a sliver looks bad and can lift.
- Measure doors and appliances. The new floor is thicker, so a dishwasher or a door may need clearance.
- Buy from one batch. Dye lots vary, and a later box may not match.
How the job goes
- Remove the old baseboard and any old flooring, and prepare the subfloor.
- Roll out the underlayment, then lay the first row with the tongue toward the wall and spacers along the wall.
- Click each row into the one before it, staggering the joints by at least 6 inches, and cut the ends to fit.
- Undercut the door casings, lay the last row (often cut to width), and remove the spacers.
- Fit the transition strips, and put back the baseboard or add quarter round.
Compare with tiling a floor, which uses thinset and grout instead. The waste factors guide explains how much extra to add. Estimates only: the maker's instructions come first.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of laminate for a 12x15 room?
10 boxes of 20 ft² for the 180 ft² room with 10% for cuts. Use 5% for a simple room and 15% for diagonal layouts, and buy an extra box for repairs.
Do I need underlayment for laminate or vinyl plank?
Often yes, unless the planks have a pad attached. Over concrete most makers require a moisture barrier too. Check the instructions for your flooring: they decide.
How much baseboard do I need to replace?
About 7 boards of 8 ft for this room: the perimeter less two 3 ft doorways, plus 10%. Quarter round on the existing baseboard is a cheaper way to cover the expansion gap.
How long should planks acclimate before installing?
As long as the maker says, usually 24 to 48 hours in the room, in their boxes. It lets the planks adjust to the temperature and humidity before they are laid.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.