Carpet Calculator
Calculate the amount of carpet needed for your room in square yards. Includes waste factor for seams and adjustments.
Formula & Explanation
Carpet is sold by the square yard. The calculation is: 1. Calculate room area: Area = Length × Width (in square feet) 2. Apply waste factor: Area with Waste = Area × (1 + Waste Factor) 3. Convert to square yards: Square Yards = Area with Waste ÷ 9 Note: 1 square yard = 9 square feet (exact conversion) Carpet typically comes in standard roll widths of 12 feet. If your room is wider than 12 feet, a seam will be required, which increases waste factor and total yardage needed.
Assumptions
- •Room is rectangular with perpendicular walls
- •Measurements are in feet
- •Carpet is sold in square yards (1 sqyd = 9 sqft)
- •Standard carpet roll width is 12 feet
- •Waste factor of 10% is typical for rooms narrower than 12 feet
- •Waste factor of 15% is recommended for rooms wider than 12 feet (due to seam placement)
- •Waste factor of 20% for rooms requiring multiple seams or complex patterns
- •Seam placement optimization is the responsibility of the carpet installer
- •Result is rounded to 2 decimal places for accurate pricing
- •Calculation does not account for stairs, complex shapes, or intricate patterns
Example Calculation
A 12ft × 10ft room (120 sqft) needs 13.33 square yards of carpet. With 10% waste for seams and adjustments, purchase 14.67 square yards.
Inputs
Results
Carpet Yardage by Room Size
| roomSize | sqft | yardage | wasteFactor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sqft | 11.11 sqyd | 10% |
| 10 × 12 ft | 120 sqft | 13.33 sqyd | 10% |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 sqft | 16 sqyd | 10% |
| 12 × 15 ft | 180 sqft | 20 sqyd | 10% |
| 15 × 18 ft | 270 sqft | 30 sqyd | 15% |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 sqft | 44.44 sqyd | 15% |
Frequently Asked Questions
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