Net vs. Gross Flooring Quantities Explained
Net quantity is the measured area where flooring is installed. Gross quantity is the material you actually order: net area plus the waste created by roll width, tile or plank size, pattern repeat, seams and cuts. Bidding on net alone under-orders material, so a commercial flooring takeoff reports both for every product.
A simple example
A corridor is 6 feet wide and 120 feet long: 720 SF net. If it receives 12-foot broadloom, the installer cuts a 12-foot width and trims half of it away, so the gross quantity is about 1,440 SF unless the trimmed strip can be used elsewhere. The net area did not change, but the material needed doubled. That gap is why net and gross must both be in the takeoff.
| Room | Net area | Material | Why gross is higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6' x 120' corridor | 720 SF | 12' broadloom | Half of each width is trimmed off |
| 30' x 40' office | 1,200 SF | Carpet tile, quarter-turn | Only edge cuts; offcuts reused |
| 20' x 25' lobby | 500 SF | Herringbone LVT | Angled cuts at every edge |
| 14' x 20' exam room | 280 SF | 6' sheet vinyl with 6" cove | Three widths plus material up the walls |
Which number goes where?
- Net is usually used for labor pricing, because installers are paid by the area installed.
- Gross is used for material ordering and material pricing.
- CFE's fee is based on net installed area.
- Attic stock is added to gross as a separate line, not counted as waste.
Getting gross right
Gross is not net plus a fixed percentage. It depends on how the material fits each room. Callidus® lays out rolls and tiles in every area and reports gross directly. For starting ranges by material, see our flooring waste factor guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is net square footage in flooring?
Net square footage is the measured surface area where flooring will be installed.
What is gross flooring quantity?
Gross flooring quantity is the material required to cover the net area after accounting for material dimensions, layout, seams, pattern requirements, cuts and waste.
Why are net and gross quantities different?
Material is lost to cuts, roll widths, pattern matching, direction requirements and room shapes, so the material you buy is almost always more than the installed area.
Should I price labor on net or gross?
Labor is commonly priced on the net installed area, while material is priced on the gross quantity. Check your installers' pay basis.
Is gross quantity the same as the order quantity?
Close, but not always. The order quantity is gross rounded up to full cartons or roll lengths, plus any attic stock the specification requires.
Why can't I just add 10% to the net area?
Because waste depends on each room's shape, the material's size and the layout pattern. A flat 10% can over- or under-order by hundreds of square feet on a large job.
Need this takeoff done for your next bid?
Send your plans and specs. Most CFE takeoffs are completed within 24–48 business hours of receiving complete documents.
Written by
Cristian Valcu – Founder & CEO, Commercial Flooring Estimating LLC
Cristian Valcu is a U.S.-based commercial flooring estimator with over 20 years of experience estimating with Callidus software in the commercial flooring industry. He is an expert in reading and interpreting floor plans, specifications and project-related information, and in producing full takeoff reports with quality material takeoffs based on all available bid documents.
Last updated:
