Carpet Calculator
Calculate square yards of carpet needed for a room. Carpet is sold by the square yard, not square foot.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Carpet is sold in rolls (12 ft or 15 ft wide) and priced per square yard. You often buy more than the room area because the roll width determines cut patterns.
The Formula
Sq Yards = Sq Feet / 9 | Roll Length = Room Length rounded up
Variables
- Sq Yards — 1 square yard = 9 square feet (3 ft x 3 ft)
- Roll Width — Standard carpet rolls are 12 ft or 15 ft wide
- Seams — Needed if room width exceeds roll width
Example
15x12 room = 180 sq ft = 20 sq yd. With a 12-ft roll: 15 ft of roll = 20 sq yd, no seam needed.
Tips
- Choose a 12-ft roll for rooms up to 12 ft wide to avoid seams.
- Carpet direction (pile lay) should be consistent — seams are visible if direction changes.
- Budget $3-8/sq yd for padding in addition to carpet cost.
- Berber and loop carpets show seams more than cut-pile styles.
- Get a professional measurement — carpet waste from bad cuts is expensive.