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About

Renovation materials such as timber decking, vinyl siding, and floorboards are frequently sold by linear length but installed to cover a specific area. Estimating the required purchase quantity demands converting the target square meterage into linear meters, or vice versa. This conversion depends entirely on the effective width of the board. Neglecting the overlap in tongue-and-groove systems or the gap between decking boards can lead to significant material shortages.

This tool helps contractors and DIY enthusiasts calculate exact coverage. It is particularly useful when comparing prices between suppliers who may list costs in different units (price per meter vs price per square meter).

decking calculator flooring area siding estimator linear to square coverage calculator

Formulas

The relationship between linear length and area is a simple geometric function of the material's width. Ensure all units are converted to meters before calculation.

A = L × W

Where:

  • A = Area (m2)
  • L = Linear Length (m)
  • W = Width of Material (m)

For reverse calculation (finding length needed for a specific area):

L = AW

Reference Data

Material TypeCommon Width (mm)Linear Meters for 1 m²
Standard Decking Board1407.14 m
Narrow Decking9011.11 m
Floorboard (Pine)1208.33 m
Floorboard (Oak)1805.56 m
Vinyl Siding (Double 4")2034.92 m
Vinyl Siding (Double 5")2543.94 m
Roofing Batten5020.00 m
Skirting Board15 (thickness usually ignored)N/A (Linear only)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. For decking, if the board is 140mm wide and you leave a 5mm gap, use 145mm (0.145m) as your calculation width. This gives the true "coverage width".
Use the "cover width" (visible face), not the total width including the tongue. The tongue is hidden during installation and does not contribute to the covered area.
For simple rectangular rooms, add 5-10% for cutting waste. For complex shapes, diagonal laying, or patterns like herringbone, add 15-20%.