How to Calculate a Suspended Ceiling

Adding a suspended ceiling to an area like a basement is a fairly simple, attractive and cost-effective way of finishing the ceiling of the space. To make sure you don't waste your money by buying excess materials, a little planning is in order before you begin your project. With some measurements and simple calculations, you'll have a good grip on what you'll need to do the job right before you start.

Tape measure
Graph paper
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width and length of your ceiling with a tape measure. Record the dimensions onto a piece of graph paper.
- 2
  Add up the dimensions for the room's perimeter in feet. You'll need this many feet of perimeter bracket. These are installed along the edge of the ceiling.
- 3
  Divide the width of the room by four. Now multiply the length of the room by this number. This will determine the total number of feet of runners you'll need. The runners are installed in parallel from down the length of the room.
- 4
  Divide the footage of the runners by two. This will determine the number of crosspieces you'll need. The crosspieces sit between the runners at 2-foot intervals.
- 5
  Multiply the width and the length of the room in feet together. This will give you the total square footage of the ceiling. Divide this number by four to determine the number of ceiling tiles you'll need.

How to Estimate Materials for a Suspended Ceiling

How to Know If Your Ceiling Is Strong Enough for a Punching Bag?

Ceilings