The formula
Boxes needed = floor area in m² × (1 + waste allowance) ÷ coverage per box, rounded up to the next whole box. That's it. The two numbers that cause most mistakes are the area (measured wrongly or with rooms missed) and the waste allowance (too little for the pattern).
| Step | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Measure | Length × width of each room, in metres | 4.2m × 3.6m = 15.12 m² |
| 2. Add up | Total all areas, subtract fixed joinery not floored | 15.12 m² |
| 3. Add waste | Multiply by 1 + waste % | 15.12 × 1.12 = 16.93 m² |
| 4. Divide | Divide by m² per box | 16.93 ÷ 1.397 = 12.1 |
| 5. Round up | Always to a whole box | 13 boxes |
Box coverage for Timbo products
Timbo's 710mm Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet is packed 16 blocks per box, covering about 1.4 m². The arithmetic is 16 × 0.710m × 0.123m = 1.397 m² per box. For other products, ask Timbo for the current coverage before you calculate.
| Product | Block size | Blocks per box | Coverage per box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet – standard | 710 × 123 × 18mm | 16 | About 1.4 m² (1.397 m²) |
| Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet – large | 820 × 123 × 18mm | Ask Timbo | Ask Timbo |
| Solid Oak Chevron Parquet | 710 × 123 × 18mm or 820 × 123 × 18mm | Ask Timbo | Ask Timbo |
| Timeless Pattern Parquet | 450 × 450 × 15mm or 800 × 800 × 15mm | – | 0.2025 m² or 0.64 m² per panel |
Herringbone is laid with left- and right-hand blocks. Ask Timbo how they are packed so you order balanced quantities for your layout.
Waste allowances by pattern (rules of thumb)
As a rule of thumb, allow about 5–10% for straight-laid boards and about 10–15% for herringbone and chevron, and more for borders, angled walls and small or broken-up rooms. These are industry rules of thumb, not fixed values – the installer's own allowance, based on the actual set-out, should always win.
| Pattern / situation | Typical allowance (rule of thumb) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-laid floorboards, simple room | About 5–10% | Offcuts can often start the next row |
| Herringbone, open rectangular room | About 10–15% | Angled cuts at every wall |
| Chevron | About 10–15% | Angled ends and perimeter cuts |
| Herringbone with border | Toward the top of the range or more | Extra cutting at the field edge |
| Hallways, L-shapes, many doorways | Toward the top of the range or more | High perimeter-to-area ratio |
| Diagonal layout to the walls | Toward the top of the range or more | More cuts per m² |
More detail on set-out and offcuts is in the herringbone layout and waste guide, and pattern differences are explained in herringbone vs chevron.
Quick reference table – 710mm herringbone
This table shows how many boxes of Timbo 710mm herringbone (1.397 m² per box) common room sizes need at different waste allowances. Figures are rounded up to whole boxes.
| Floor area | Boxes, no waste | + 5% | + 10% | + 15% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 m² | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 8 m² | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 10 m² | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| 12 m² | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 15 m² | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| 20 m² | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
| 25 m² | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 30 m² | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 40 m² | 29 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| 50 m² | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
| 60 m² | 43 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
| 80 m² | 58 | 61 | 63 | 66 |
| 100 m² | 72 | 76 | 79 | 83 |
The "no waste" column is for reference only – herringbone always needs a waste allowance.
Worked examples
Example 1 – bedroom. A 4.2m × 3.6m bedroom is 15.12 m². With a 12% herringbone allowance: 15.12 × 1.12 = 16.93 m². Divide by 1.397 = 12.1, so order 13 boxes (18.2 m² of product).
Example 2 – L-shaped living area. Main area 6.0m × 7.5m = 45 m², plus a 2.0m × 3.0m nook = 6 m², total 51 m². Because of the L-shape, allow 15%: 51 × 1.15 = 58.65 m². Divide by 1.397 = 41.97 – so 42 boxes is the bare minimum. That leaves almost nothing spare, so most installers would order 43.
Example 3 – hallway. A 1.1m × 8.0m hallway is 8.8 m². Long, narrow areas have lots of perimeter cuts, so allow 15%: 8.8 × 1.15 = 10.12 m². Divide by 1.397 = 7.2, so order 8 boxes.
Measuring tips
Measure every room at its widest points, include doorways and robes the floor runs into, and draw a simple plan.
- Measure in metres to two decimal places and note which way the pattern will run.
- Split odd shapes into rectangles, then add them up.
- Include thresholds, built-in robes and under-stair areas if they're being floored.
- Subtract only what the floor definitely won't go under (check kitchen islands and joinery with the builder).
- Keep the plan with the quote – it makes reordering easy.
Don't forget everything that isn't the floor itself: adhesive, moisture barrier, levelling, borders, trims and sanding and coating for raw parquet. See parquet installation cost for a full line-item list.
Why ordering a little extra pays
Ordering one spare box is cheap insurance. Timber is natural, so colour and grain vary between production batches. Running short mid-job can mean waiting for stock and blending a different batch. A spare box also gives the client matching blocks for future repairs. Before acclimatising and installing, see acclimatising oak flooring.
Flooring businesses can get quantities and coverage confirmed when ordering – Timbo partners order by email purchase order. Homeowners should get a measure and quote from a Timbo partner.
Sources
- Timbo product data – 710 × 123 × 18mm herringbone, 16 blocks per box (coverage calculated: 16 × 0.710 × 0.123 = 1.397 m²).
- Waste allowances are general industry rules of thumb; confirm with your installer for each project.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes of herringbone do I need for 20 m²?
With Timbo's 710mm herringbone (about 1.4 m² per box), 20 m² is 14.3 boxes before waste. Adding a typical 10–15% herringbone allowance gives 16–17 boxes. Your installer confirms the final number.
How much does one box of Timbo 710mm herringbone cover?
About 1.4 m². Each box holds 16 blocks of 710 × 123 × 18mm, and 16 × 0.710m × 0.123m = 1.397 m².
How much does a box of 820mm herringbone cover?
Ask Timbo for the current box coverage of the 820 × 123 × 18mm size before you calculate. Don't assume it is the same as the 710mm box.
Why does herringbone need more waste than straight floorboards?
Every block that meets a wall, border or doorway is cut at an angle, and the offcuts often can't be reused elsewhere. Straight-laid boards can usually reuse offcuts to start the next row.
Should I round up to a whole box?
Yes, always. Boxes are sold whole, and running short mid-job can mean a delay and a slightly different batch. Many installers add one spare box for future repairs.
Do I subtract kitchen islands and built-in cupboards?
Usually yes, if the floor won't run underneath them – but confirm with the builder, because some installers lay under joinery. Measure the rooms first, then subtract fixed areas the floor won't cover.
Does a border change how many boxes I need?
Yes. A border reduces the herringbone field area but adds cutting at the field edge, and the border itself may be a different product. Measure the field and border separately.