How to Measure Inside a Home for Flooring

Determine the exact limits of the area to be floored. It may be a single room, several rooms, or perhaps corridors, closets and rooms combined. Create a rough sketch of the inside of the house and mark all the areas to be measured. Use the sketch plan to record the room dimensions and to be certain that you have not missed any areas.

Divide the first area into rectangles. If the room is a single rectangle, your work is simple math, but if it is L-shaped or C-shaped, you must first divide the area into two or three rectangles. Measure the length and width of each rectangle, and then measure them again. The old saying "measure twice, cut once" applies to flooring too, even if you aren't cutting anything yet. Multiply the length by the width to determine the floor area. For example, a room 12 feet long by 10 feet wide has a floor area of 120 square feet -- 12 times 10 equals 120 -- and an L-shaped room consisting of a 12 feet by 10 feet rectangle and a 6 feet by 8 feet rectangle has a floor area of 168 square feet -- 120 plus 48 equals 168.

Repeat the measuring and area calculations for each floor area inside the home, ticking off each area on your plan once it is measured. Add together all the floor areas when you have measured every section on your plan. The combined total is the total floor area measured inside your home.

Add an additional 10 percent if you intend to order the materials, such as wood, tiles or carpet, for the floor. This is the industry standard "safety margin" to compensate for cutting errors and waste.