How to Compute Carpet Measurements

Adding carpet to your home starts with proper room measurements. Using basic math, you can calculate the number of square yards you will need for a carpet installation. The measurements also allow you to determine a starting price range for purchasing and installing carpet. The type and style of carpet does not matter when taking measurements. For large rooms, you may need a friend to help you maneuver the tape measure around the area to obtain proper measurements.

Tape measure
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of each room with a tape measure. For odd shaped rooms---or rooms with closets---separate the rooms into measurable squares or rectangles.
- 2
  Multiply the length times width for each area of the room. For example, a square shaped room with a rectangular shaped closet will have two measured areas: the large square and the smaller rectangle.
- 3
  Sum all the area totals. Add 10 percent to this total for extra carpet material.
- 4
  Divide the total figure from Step 3 by nine. This converts the total to square yards, which is how most carpet vendors calculate carpet installation projects.

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