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Carpet Calculator

Enter your room dimensions. Get square feet, square yards, linear feet of roll, and padding estimate.

Carpet Calculator
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Estimated carpet needed
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sq ft incl. waste
Switch display unit only.
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Room Sq Ft
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Room Sq Yds
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Linear Ft of Roll
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Padding Rolls
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What this estimate includes

This estimate shows carpet needed, room area, linear feet from the roll, and padding rolls if selected.

How it’s calculated

Room area = length × width + extra area
Carpet with waste = room area × waste %
Square yards = square feet ÷ 9
Linear feet = carpet sq ft ÷ roll width
Padding rolls = room sq ft ÷ padding roll coverage

Before you order

Carpet seams, stairs, closets, hallways, and patterned carpet can change the final quantity. Use this as a planning estimate and confirm with your installer or flooring retailer before buying.

Need other flooring estimates? Try the vinyl flooring calculator or tile calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate carpet for a room?
Multiply the room length by the room width to get square feet, then divide by 9 for square yards. Add your waste percentage (typically 10%). For a 12x15 room: 180 sq ft / 9 = 20 sq yards. With 10% waste, order 22 sq yards.
How many square yards are in a room?
Divide the square footage by 9 to convert to square yards. A 12x12 room is 144 sq ft = 16 sq yards. A 12x15 room is 180 sq ft = 20 sq yards. Many carpet retailers price by the square yard.
How much extra carpet should I order?
Order 10% extra for simple rectangular rooms. For L-shaped rooms, rooms with alcoves, stairs, or patterned carpet, add 15-20%. Professional installers add extra to minimize seams in visible areas.
What carpet roll width should I use?
Most residential carpet comes in 12 ft wide rolls. Some premium carpets are available in 13.5 ft or 15 ft widths. A wider roll means fewer seams, which is important for large rooms and visible areas.
Do I need carpet padding?
Yes -- carpet padding extends carpet life, improves comfort underfoot, reduces noise, and helps with insulation. Most carpet manufacturers require padding to maintain warranty coverage.
Should closets be included?
Yes -- closets are part of your installed floor area and need carpet. Include closet square footage in the extra area field. Closets in bedrooms are often carpeted to match the room.
Why does carpet waste vary so much?
Carpet waste depends on room shape, seam placement, roll width, and pattern matching requirements. Patterned carpet can waste 15-25% because cuts must align the pattern across seams. Professional installers measure for minimum seam placement.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides planning estimates only. Actual carpet quantities depend on room shape, seam placement strategy, roll width, and installer method. Always get a professional measurement from your flooring retailer before purchasing. See all interior renovation calculators.