Random width flooring calculation

Add up the widths – for example, in a 3-4-5 pattern this number would equal 12.

Then, divide each width by the sum of the widths – for example 3/12 = 0.25 (or 25%), 4/12= 0.33 (or 33%), 5/12= 0.42 (or 42%)… these are the percentages of each width required to do the job.

Then take your total volume of wood, and multiply it by these percentages to yield the quantity of each width required – for example, if the job requires 1000 sq.ft. total, 1000*0.25= 250sq.ft. of 3” material, 1000*0.33= 330sq.ft. of 4” material, 1000*0.42= 420sq.ft. of 5” material.

You can double check your math by adding the percentages and verifying that their sum equals 100% - for example, 25%+33%+42%= 100%

You can triple check your math by adding the square footages and verifying that their sum equals the total square feet for the job – for example, 250+330+420= 1000sq.ft.

OR:

Another way that sometimes is less time consuming is to divide the total of the widths into the total square footage.

The resulting figure can then be multiplied by each width to get the total square footage of that width.
This way because it takes less time, but you must know the total square footing up front.

Ex:  3,4, 5 would equal 12 . If the total footage is 1000sqft….divide 12 into 1000…this would be 83.33.       

83.33 x 3 = 249.99

83.33 x 4 = 333.32

83.33 x 5 = 416.65

Total =       999.96  
(don’t worry about the fractions) you will have to adjust this now to the minimum cartons or bundles that will have to be ordered