How to Figure Square Feet for Linoleum

Figuring out the square footage for your new linoleum floor is a geometry problem in which you measure and calculate the area of the floor. In addition, you need to add in a little bit extra for waste, for the bits of linoleum you cut off and discard. Since rooms are not always perfect rectangles, a simple sketch will help to break the room into blocks that are easier to measure.

• 1

  Make a sketch of the floor of the room, and then break it into rectangular blocks (if the room is not a simple rectangle).

• 2

  Measure the length and width of each of the blocks and mark them on your drawing. Make sure to mark your measures in inches only, not inches and feet.

• 3

  Multiply the length by the width of each block, and write down the total. This is the area in square inches for each block.

• 4

  Add the area in square inches together for all of the blocks to determine the entire room's square footage.

• 5

  Divide the total area by 144 to get the area in square feet. For instance, if your total area in square inches is 21,600, then your area in square feet is 150.

• 6

  Multiply the area in square feet by 1.1 to add 10 percent to your measurement, and get a figure for the amount of linoleum you should purchase. Here, 150 square feet times 1.1 is 165 square feet of linoleum needed.