How to Measure Amount of Carpet Needed

When you want to install wall-to-wall carpet, you can get an idea of how much carpet you'll need by taking a few simple measurements and doing a little math. Carpet is sold in square yards, the equivalent of 9 square feet. It usually comes in 12-foot-wide rolls and each piece must be laid in the same direction. That means you may have to buy more than your calculations show, to limit the number of seams. Use your basic calculation as an estimate for budgeting purposes. Confirm the actual amount with a carpet installer or retailer before your order your carpet.

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Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length of your room, from the farthest points. For instance, if your room has a carpeted closet, measure to the back wall of the closet. Measure the width of the room in the same way. If your room is L-shaped, break it into two rectangles and measure the length and width of each one.
- 2
  Multiply the length of the room by its width to calculate its square footage. For example, a 12-by-12-foot room is 144 square feet. If you have an L-shaped room, calculate each section's square footage, then add them together to get the total square footage.
- 3
  Divide the room's square footage by 9. This gives you the number of square yards of carpeting needed to cover the room.

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