How do I use the room layout calculator?

Enter your room dimensions and unit, click "Update Room", then drag furniture items from the sidebar into the canvas. You can resize and rotate items, and the calculator will show total area, used area, and walking clearance.

Is this room layout tool to scale?

Yes. The canvas uses a fixed scale based on your selected unit. Each grid square represents a fixed real-world size, and all furniture and distances are calculated from that scale.

Can I change units between feet and meters?

You can choose feet or meters before drawing the room. To switch units, change the unit selector and click "Update Room" again. Existing items will be recalculated using the new scale.

Does the calculator check furniture spacing and clearances?

Yes. The summary panel shows approximate free floor area and a clearance score based on recommended minimum walking paths. You can also enable the clearance overlay to visualize narrow spots.

Can I save or export my room layout?

You can export a text summary of your room and furniture dimensions, plus key metrics, using the "Copy Layout Summary" button. For images, you can take a screenshot of the canvas.

Room Layout Calculator & Floor Plan Planner

Draw your room to scale, drag in furniture, and instantly see areas, clearances, and layout efficiency—right in your browser.

1. Room dimensions

Length

Width

Unit

Tip: Start with the overall room shell, then add furniture. You can switch between feet and meters at any time.

2. Tools & furniture

Furniture presets

Living room

Bedroom

Office

Selected item

Click an item on the canvas to edit its size, position, or rotation.

3. Layout summary

Room area

192 ft²

16 × 12 ft

Furniture footprint

0 ft²

0% of room area

Clearance score

–

Add furniture to estimate walking space.

How the room layout calculator works

This room layout calculator is a lightweight alternative to heavy 3D planners. It focuses on what matters most for real-world planning: accurate dimensions, furniture footprint, and comfortable walking clearances.

Scale and units

The canvas uses a fixed drawing scale so that every item is proportional to your real room. You can work in feet or meters:

Feet mode: default for US-style plans (ft and ft²).
Meters mode: metric plans (m and m²).

Internally, the tool converts your inputs to a consistent pixel scale. For example, if the room length is \(L\) and width is \(W\), the room area is:

Room area

\[ A_\text{room} = L \times W \]

Furniture footprint and free space

Each furniture item is treated as a rectangle with length \(l_i\) and width \(w_i\) in your chosen unit. The total furniture footprint is:

Total furniture area

\[ A_\text{furniture} = \sum_{i=1}^{n} l_i \times w_i \]

Free floor area

\[ A_\text{free} = A_\text{room} - A_\text{furniture} \]

The calculator shows both the absolute furniture area and its percentage of the room. As a rule of thumb, keeping furniture footprint under 40–50% of the room area usually feels comfortable for living spaces.

Clearance score (walking space)

Good layouts leave enough space to walk around furniture and open doors. The tool estimates a simple clearance score based on:

Overall free floor area.
How many items are close to walls or each other.
Whether the free area drops below common thresholds.

While it’s not a full path-finding engine, it gives a quick indication:

Excellent: plenty of free space, low crowding.
Good: comfortable for daily use.
Tight: functional but narrow in places.
Crowded: consider removing or shrinking items.

Recommended clearances for common rooms

Use these guidelines when adjusting your layout:

Main walking paths: 36 in / 90 cm or more.
Side access around beds: 24–30 in / 60–75 cm.
Between coffee table and sofa: 16–18 in / 40–45 cm.
Desk and chair clearance: 36 in / 90 cm behind the chair.
Door swing: keep the full arc clear (usually 30–36 in / 75–90 cm wide).

Step‑by‑step: planning a room layout

Measure your room. Note length, width, and any alcoves or columns.
Enter dimensions and choose units. Click “Update Room” to redraw the shell.
Add key furniture first. Bed, sofa, desk, or dining table go in before smaller pieces.
Drag and rotate items. Aim for clear walking paths between doors and main furniture.
Check the summary. Watch furniture footprint and clearance score as you tweak.
Export your plan. Use “Copy layout summary” to save dimensions for shopping or contractors.

Limitations and best use

This tool is ideal for quick planning, furniture shopping, and communicating ideas. It does not replace architectural drawings or building code checks. For structural changes, electrical layouts, or plumbing, consult a qualified professional.

FAQ

Can I use this for multiple rooms or an entire apartment?

Yes, but the canvas is optimized for a single room at a time. For multi-room layouts, you can either: draw each room separately with its own dimensions, or treat the whole apartment as one large rectangle and label zones with furniture.

How accurate is the scale?

As long as you enter correct room and furniture dimensions, the relative scale is accurate. The grid is a visual aid; the actual calculations use your numeric inputs, not grid counting.

What if my room isn’t perfectly rectangular?

Use the main rectangle for the largest part of the room, then add custom rectangles to represent alcoves, closets, or bump‑outs. The area summary is based on the main rectangle, so treat irregular spaces as approximations.

Can I print my layout?

Yes. Use your browser’s print or screenshot tools to capture the canvas. For best results, zoom your browser so the canvas fills most of the screen before printing.