Carpet Calculator

Carpet is usually priced by the square yard, though rooms are measured in feet, and the direction the pile runs means a room cannot always be covered with one seamless piece. These two facts explain why a carpet estimate is rarely just the floor area: you pay for the carpet that must be cut and thrown away to make the seams and edges work. Roll width drives the layout. Carpet comes in fixed widths, typically twelve or fifteen feet, and the backing has a direction, so pieces must be laid the same way up. In a room wider than the roll, a seam is unavoidable and the two pieces must be matched, which wastes material along the join. Fitters measure the longest run in both directions and buy enough length to cover the room including the seam allowance. Waste also comes from doorways and irregularities. A bay window, a chimney breast or a run of fitted wardrobes all create awkward cuts. Ten per cent on top of the measured area is a common working allowance for a simple room; more complex shapes, stairs and landings push it higher. Stairs in particular consume more carpet than their plan area suggests, because each tread and riser is a separate cut. This calculator turns the room dimensions into square feet and square yards with a waste allowance, and applies a price if you enter one. It covers the carpet itself, not underlay, gripper or fitting, which together often cost a meaningful fraction of the total. Measure your room carefully, then confirm the roll width and seam plan with your fitter.

This calculator returns estimates for planning and general information only. It is not engineering, architectural, structural, electrical or code advice, and it cannot replace a qualified professional who has seen the site. Material quantities depend on the actual dimensions, the product you buy and local building codes, so confirm the figures before ordering materials or starting work, and always follow local regulations.