How to Cut an End Piece of Laminate Flooring

Measure the space from the end of the last installed piece of laminate flooring in the row to the wall.

Measure this distance from the end of a new laminate piece, minus the expansion gap required by the flooring manufacturer. If the laminate flooring strips interlock end to end, measure from the end that will interlock with the last installed piece, but do not include any tongue or lip that extends from the end of the strip.

Mark the measurement on the side of the strip lightly with a pencil.

Place the lipped edge of a carpenter’s square firmly against the edge of the strip, and align its corner with the pencil mark. Trace the perpendicular, flat edge of the square straight across the strip with a pencil. If you will cut the strip with a manual hand saw, trace the cutting mark across the wood-grain or patterned side of the strip. If you will cut the strip with a rotary cutting tool, circular saw or any other power tool, trace the cutting line across the back side of the strip.

Place the strip on a raised work table or another sturdy surface with the cutting line facing up. Brace the strip with the cutting line just past the edge of the table. Cut the strip straight across at the line.

Trim off any ragged edges on the cut end with a sharp utility knife, or sand them very gently by hand with fine sandpaper.

Place the strip on top of the last installed piece of laminate. Slide it forward to the wall and down into the empty space.

Push the end piece back into the last installed piece until they interlock, or until they are butted tightly together.