Room Length

ft

Enter the longest dimension of the room in feet.

Room Width

ft

Enter the shortest dimension of the room in feet.

Waste Factor

%

Extra material for cuts, patterns, and errors (typically 5-15%).

Quick Examples:

Small Bedroom (12×10) Living Room (15×12) Master Bedroom (16×14)

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This calculator is for informational purposes only. Verify results with appropriate professionals for important decisions.

How This Calculator Works

1. Step 1: Enter your room's length and width measurements in feet.
2. Step 2: Set a waste factor percentage to account for cuts and pattern matching.
3. Step 3: Click Calculate to see your total carpet needs in square feet and square yards.
4. Step 4: Review the breakdown of base area, waste allowance, and total material required.

How Carpet Area Is Calculated

The Carpet Calculator determines material needs using standard geometric area calculations combined with a waste allowance. Carpet is typically sold by the square yard in the United States, making the conversion from square feet an essential step in the estimation process.

The waste factor accounts for irregular room shapes, carpet pattern repeats, cutting around obstacles like closets or bay windows, and minor installation errors. Most flooring professionals recommend 5-10% for simple rectangular rooms and 15-20% for complex layouts with patterns.

This calculator uses the standard US customary unit conversion where one square yard equals nine square feet. The estimated values may help with preliminary budgeting before obtaining professional measurements.

What Your Carpet Area Means

Your calculation provides two key numbers: total square feet and total square yards. Square footage helps you visualize the actual floor space, while square yardage is typically how carpet is priced and ordered from retailers.

For Budgeting: Multiply your square yardage by the carpet price per square yard to estimate material costs. Remember to separately account for padding, installation labor, and any additional materials like transition strips or threshold bars.

For Ordering: Carpet comes in standard roll widths, typically 12 feet but sometimes 13.5 or 15 feet. Rooms wider than the roll width will require seams, which may increase waste and affect pattern matching. Complex room shapes with alcoves, closets, or angled walls generally require higher waste factors.

Consider rounding up to the nearest whole square yard when ordering, as carpet is typically sold in full-yard increments. Having slightly more material than needed is generally preferable to running short during installation.