Carpet Calculator
Calculate square yards of carpet needed for a room or entire house. Convert square feet to square yards, add seam waste, and get the total you need to order from carpet installers.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet Calculator | Square Yards = Room Area (sq ft) / 9 | sq yards + rolls |
Step-by-Step Examples
15x12 ft bedroom, 12-ft wide carpet roll, 10% waste.
- Area = 180 sq ft = 20 sq yds
- + 10% waste = 22 sq yds
- One 12-ft wide roll covers 15 ft: 1 piece x 15 ft = 20 sq yds
- Need to order 22 sq yds
20x16 ft room, 12-ft roll, 15% waste.
- Area = 320 sq ft = 35.6 sq yds
- + 15% = 40.9 sq yds
- Room is 16 ft wide; needs 2 rows of 12-ft roll
- Seam waste adds to the 15% waste factor
Total 1,200 sq ft to carpet.
- 1,200 sq ft / 9 = 133.3 sq yds
- + 10% = 147 sq yds
- Seams between rooms add 10-15% waste in practice
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common mistake: room is 150 sq ft = 16.7 sq yds, not 150 yds. Most carpet prices are per square yard ($15-60/sq yd); multiplying by sq ft gives the wrong total.
Rooms wider than the roll width (typically 12 ft) require seamed pieces. The excess strip from the first row is often too narrow to use elsewhere. This adds 15-20% waste in wide rooms.
Patterned carpet requires extra material to match patterns at seams. A 12-inch pattern repeat can add 10-15% to your order. Always ask the retailer for pattern repeat data.