How to Figure the Amount of Carpet Needed for Carpet Laying

Figuring out how much carpet is needed to cover a particular area is a mathematical exercise. Stores that sell carpet will send someone to your building to take measurements and will then do the figuring for you. Many people, though, may want to order the carpet themselves. Others will not only order their own carpet but will also install it themselves. Still others just want to get an idea of how much it will cost to carpet a certain area. If you can calculate the amount of carpet, then all you have to do is multiply that amount by the price per square yard to find an estimated carpet cost.

Tape measure
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length (in feet) of each area to be carpeted. Measure to the widest part of the area. When the length includes a doorway, measure to the center of the doorway. When the length includes a closet, include the depth of the closet.
- 2
  Measure the width (in feet) of each area to be carpeted. Measure to the widest part of the area. When the width includes a doorway, measure to the center of the doorway. When the width includes a closet, include the depth of the closet.
- 3
  Multiply the length of each area by its width. The result is the total square feet for each area.
- 4
  Add together the total square feet of all areas. This is the total square feet of the job.
- 5
  Divide the total square feet by 9 to arrive at the total square yards.
- 6
  Multiply the total square yards by 10 percent. If your calculator does not have a percentage key, then multiply by 0.10. This is the estimated amount of waste due to rooms not being square and carpet loss at thresholds, seams, and pattern adjustments so that the carpet does not looked mismatched.
- 7
  Add the result from Step 6 to the Step 5 result. Round the number up to the next square yard. This is the total amount of carpet needed, including some for waste.

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