VINYL
SHEET VINYL FLOORING
lin ft = long side × strips × waste
ft
ft
RESULT
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FILL IN ABOVE
Sheet vinyl sold by the linear foot off the roll. 12 ft roll is the residential standard; 6 ft is for narrow halls and small baths. 1 yd² = 9 ft². Add 10% waste, 15% if the pattern has a repeat.
About this calculator
This sheet vinyl calculator gives you the linear feet of roll vinyl, total square footage, and square yards needed for a sheet-goods install. Sheet vinyl is sold by the linear foot off rolls 6, 12, or 13 ft 2 in wide; the roll width determines whether your room covers seamlessly or needs a seam. Enter room dimensions and roll width, and the calculator returns the linear feet to buy with a 10% waste factor (15% for printed pattern repeats) plus an estimated seam count. Sheet vinyl is the cheapest and most water-resistant flooring per square foot — common in kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, and rentals.
Common questions
How is sheet vinyl sold?
By the linear foot off a roll. Standard residential rolls are 12 ft wide; the price quote is per linear foot or sometimes per square yard. A 14 ft long room with a 12 ft roll needs 14 lin ft of material plus 10% waste — about 15 ft × 12 ft = 180 ft² of vinyl to cover a 14×10 room.
Felt-back vs fiberglass-back vinyl — which one?
Felt-back is cheaper ($0.80–1.50/ft²) and gets fully glued down — permanent install, harder to replace later. Fiberglass-back (also called "loose lay" or "modified loose lay") costs more ($1.50–3.00/ft²) but only needs perimeter adhesive or double-sided tape — easier DIY install and easier to pull up if you redecorate. Both are vapor-resistant and good in wet areas.
Do I need to seam sheet vinyl?
Only if your shorter room dimension is wider than the roll. 12 ft rolls cover almost every residential room seamlessly — bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry. Living rooms over 12 ft on the short side need one seam, sealed with chemical seam sealer (a solvent that fuses the two edges). DIYable but takes practice.
Can sheet vinyl go over an existing floor?
Over old vinyl, yes — if the old floor is flat, well-bonded, and not cushioned (no seams or texture telegraphing through). Over tile, only if you skim-coat the grout lines flat with self-leveling compound first. Over carpet, never. Sheet vinyl reads every irregularity in the substrate within 6 months.