CARPET
CARPET
yd² = ft² × waste ÷ 9
ft
ft
RESULT
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FILL IN ABOVE
Carpet sells by the square yard. Standard rolls are 12 ft or 15 ft wide. 1 yd² = 9 ft². Add 10% waste; seams add labor cost ($1–3/lin ft).
About this calculator
This carpet calculator gives you the square yards of carpet (and pad) needed for a room. Carpet is sold by the square yard from rolls 12 or 15 feet wide; the roll width determines whether your room can be covered seamlessly or whether you need a seam. Enter your room length and width, choose a roll width, and the calculator returns square yards to buy with a 10% waste factor plus a rough seam count. One square yard equals nine square feet; pricing is almost always quoted per yd² at retail and per ft² at warehouse outlets.
Common questions
Why is carpet sold by the square yard?
Tradition from the textile industry — rugs and broadloom were always quoted in yards. Today most retail carpet is priced per yd² ($2–8 for residential builder grade, $8–25 for premium); warehouse and remnant outlets often quote per ft² instead. To convert: ft² ÷ 9 = yd². The calculator gives both numbers.
Do I really need carpet pad?
Yes, except for commercial-grade glue-down. Pad doubles carpet life by absorbing impact, improves R-value (insulation), and is required by most carpet warranties. Bedrooms and living rooms use 7/16" 6lb rebond as the residential standard; basements need a moisture-barrier pad over concrete.
How wide is a roll of carpet?
Standard residential carpet ships in 12-ft rolls — wide enough to cover most bedrooms seamlessly. 15-ft rolls exist for large living rooms but are rarer and cost more. Commercial broadloom is often 6 ft. If your shorter room dimension is over the roll width, you'll need at least one seam.
Where do seams go in a carpeted room?
Out of sight lines. Best practice: seam runs perpendicular to the main door so you walk along the seam, not across it; seams should fall under furniture or in low-traffic zones. Cut-pile carpet hides seams better than loop pile (Berber), where seams stand out for the life of the carpet.