Carpet Calculator
Enter your room size and we'll work out how many square yards of carpet to buy — waste allowance and cost included.
📖 How it works & FAQHow much carpet do you need?
Carpet is priced and sold by the square yard, but rooms are measured in feet — so the math trips people up. The core conversion is simple: there are 9 square feet in one square yard, so you divide your room's area in square feet by 9. This calculator does that for you and adds a waste allowance so you don't come up short mid-install.
Why add a waste allowance?
Carpet comes off the roll in fixed widths (usually 12 feet), and installers need extra material to line up the pile direction, match patterns, trim edges, and run seams cleanly. A 10% waste allowance is a common starting point for a simple rectangular room; add more (15-20%) for stairs, hallways, closets, angled walls, or bold patterns that must repeat. These figures are estimates, not professional advice — always confirm with your installer before ordering.
How to use it
- Measure your room's length and width in feet and type them in.
- Set a waste allowance — 10% is a sensible default for a plain rectangular room.
- Optionally enter the price per square yard to see an estimated material cost.
- Read your results instantly: square yards to buy, floor area, and total cost.
FAQ
- How many square feet are in a square yard?
- Exactly 9. That's why the formula divides your area in square feet by 9 to get square yards.
- Does this include padding or installation?
- No — it estimates the carpet material only. Padding, tack strips, and labor are usually quoted separately by your retailer or installer.
- How much waste should I allow?
- Around 10% for a straightforward rectangular room, and 15-20% for stairs, closets, irregular shapes, or patterned carpet that needs matching.
- My room isn't a rectangle — what do I do?
- Break it into rectangles, calculate each separately, and add the square footage together before applying waste.