Carpet area, yardage & cost estimator
Estimate how much carpet you need for a rectangular room. The calculator reports square feet, square yards, purchase area with waste, approximate roll length and material cost.
Interactive tool
Planning estimate only. Verify measurements, material specifications, densities, package coverage and supplier pricing before ordering.
Visual guide
See the measurement path before using the formula. The visual separates area, depth, volume and purchase units so the calculation is easier to verify.
Practical guide
The number is only useful when the inputs describe the actual project. These are the assumptions that most often change the result.
Carpet is sold from rolls, so square footage alone does not describe every real installation. The calculator adds waste, converts to square yards and estimates area-equivalent roll length using the roll width you enter.
Trimming, room shape, seams and pattern matching can increase material needs beyond bare floor area. Use a waste allowance that fits the room and product rather than assuming every installation needs the same percentage.
Measure alcoves, closets and irregular sections separately. For patterned carpet or layouts with seam constraints, a professional cutting plan can require more material than an area-only estimate.
Calculation guide
Measure the room at its widest points, calculate floor area, then add a waste allowance for trimming, pattern matching and layout. When roll width is entered, the tool also estimates the minimum linear roll length required by area.
Enter the longest room length and width in a consistent unit.
Use a waste allowance for trimming, seams and layout.
The tool converts purchase square footage to square yards automatically.
Enter roll width and price per square yard for a planning length and material-cost estimate.
Worked example
A 12 ft × 12 ft room is 144 ft², or 16 yd². With 10% waste, the purchase target is about 158.4 ft² or 17.6 yd².
Reference values
Use this table for quick planning checks. Calculator inputs remain the better choice when your dimensions, depth, density, waste or product coverage differ.
| Room | Area | With 10% Waste |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 ft² / 11.11 yd² | 110.00 ft² |
| 10 × 12 ft | 120 ft² / 13.33 yd² | 132.00 ft² |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 ft² / 16.00 yd² | 158.40 ft² |
| 12 × 15 ft | 180 ft² / 20.00 yd² | 198.00 ft² |
| 15 × 20 ft | 300 ft² / 33.33 yd² | 330.00 ft² |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 ft² / 44.44 yd² | 440.00 ft² |
People also ask
Overlapping questions are consolidated so each answer covers a distinct calculation or planning issue.
Multiply room length by width, then add a waste allowance. Convert square feet to square yards by dividing by 9 when carpet is priced or sold by the square yard.
A 12 ft × 12 ft room is 144 ft² or 16 yd² before waste. Add the waste percentage appropriate for the layout and carpet pattern.
A 10 ft × 10 ft room is 100 ft², or about 11.11 yd² before waste.
Costs vary by carpet, padding, labor, region and waste. Enter the current material price in the calculator for a project-specific material estimate.
Measure the maximum room length and width, note closets or alcoves separately, and consider roll direction, seams and pattern repeat before ordering.
Formulas are shown on the page and variable assumptions are exposed as inputs where they affect the result. Unit relationships are checked against NIST measurement references. Material density, packaging, product coverage and pricing should be verified with the supplier for the material actually being purchased.