How to Figure the Square Footage for Carpet

Calculating Square Footage

• 1

  Measure the length and width of the room(s) you want to carpet. Write down the length and width in feet and inches.

• 2

  Round your measurements up. If the length of the room is 8 feet, 4 inches, use 9 feet as the length in calculating the square footage of the room. Doing this will prevent you from buying less carpet than you need.

• 3

  Use the following formula to calculate the area of the room: A = L x W. “In other words, ‘area equals length times width,’” as stated by Math in Daily Life. Using measurements rounded up will produce an approximate square footage with enough leeway to ensure you purchase the correct amount of carpet.

• 4

  Use the answer from your calculations to determine how much carpet you need. If your answer is 24 square feet, you will probably want to buy 25 or 26 square feet to make sure you have enough.