Unpacking Flooring Quotes: M2 vs. Per Lineal Metre

Ever wonder why some flooring retailers quote per square metre (M2) and others, like Factory Carpets, use lineal metres? It's a common point of confusion, and frankly, some methods look cheaper. Let's clarify.

The Different Metrics: Lineal Metre vs. Square Metre

Per Lineal Metre (LM): The Factory Carpets Way This is the price for a length of material from a standard roll.

• Carpet: Our typical carpet is 3.66m wide, but some ranges are available at 4m wide. 1 LM means a piece 3.66m x 1m (or 4m x 1m if it's a 4m roll).

• Vinyl (Roll): Our in-stock vinyl is 2m wide, but 3m and 4m wide options can also be available. 1 LM means a piece 2m x 1m (or 3m x 1m, or 4m x 1m, depending on the roll).

Per Square Metre (M2): Common Retail Display & Other Products This is the price per single square metre of floor area. It can seem cheaper and is often easier for a customer to quickly grasp their floor's total area (e.g., a 75m² room).

• Products quoted by M2: For products like laminate, hybrid vinyl planks, and carpet tiles, square metre pricing is standard as they are individual pieces designed to cover a specific area.

Why Retailers Quote Differently?

It often boils down to presentation. A lower "per M2" price can appear more attractive. For instance, "$25 per M2" looks better than "$91.50 per lineal metre" (for a 3.66m wide carpet), even though they represent the exact same cost.

Always Compare Apples to Apples

To truly compare prices, you must convert.

• LM to M2: Divide the lineal metre price by the roll width.

  • Example (Carpet): If carpet is $91.50 LM for a 3.66m wide roll → 91.50/3.66=$25 per M2.

  • Example (Vinyl): If vinyl is 59 LM for a **2m wide** roll→59/2=$29.50 per M2.

  • Example (Vinyl): If vinyl is 88.50 LM for a **3m wide** roll→88.50/3=$29.50 per M2.

• M2 to LM: Multiply the square metre price by the roll width.

  • Example (Carpet): If a competitor quotes 25 per M2 for a **3.66m wide** roll→25×3.66=$91.50 per LM.

  • Example (Carpet): If a competitor quotes 25 per M2 for a **4m wide** roll→25×4=$100 per LM.

Quick Estimate vs. Actual Cost: A Small Room Example

Let's say you have a 4m x 3m room, which is 12m². You see carpet advertised at $99 per lineal metre (for a 3.66m wide roll).

• Quick M2 Estimate: 12m2×($99/3.66)≈12m2×$27.05 per M2≈$324.60. This is what many might think it costs.

• Actual Cost (Lineal Metres): For a 4m wide room with 3.66m wide carpet, you'd likely need to run the carpet lengthwise, meaning you'd buy 4 lineal metres to cover the 4m length.

  • Actual Price: 4 lineal metres ×$99/LM=$396.

Understanding how flooring is quoted is the first step to making an informed decision. While a "per M2" price might offer quick mental math, especially for rectangular products like tiles, the "per lineal metre" method used by Factory Carpets provides a more direct reflection of how roll goods are sold and installed, taking into account the full width of the material.

The key takeaway remains: always ask for clarity on the unit of measure and don't hesitate to do a quick conversion yourself. Whether you're buying carpet, vinyl, or carpet tiles, knowing precisely what you're paying for per square metre or lineal metre ensures you get an accurate quote and avoid any surprises. At Factory Carpets, we're committed to transparency and helping you understand every aspect of your flooring investment.