Carpet Calculator

Measure each room's length and width in feet, then multiply for square footage. Add all rooms together for total area. Convert to square yards by dividing by 9 (carpet is sold by square yard). Add 10-15% for waste, seams, and pattern matching. Example: 12ft × 15ft room = 180 sq ft = 20 sq yards. With 10% waste: 22 sq yards needed.

Carpet is typically priced and sold by square yard. One square yard equals 9 square feet (3ft × 3ft). To convert square feet to square yards, divide by 9. A 200 sq ft room needs 200 ÷ 9 = 22.2 square yards of carpet. When comparing prices, make sure you're comparing the same unit—$30/sq yd equals $3.33/sq ft.

Add 10-15% extra to your total square footage. This accounts for: cutting waste at room edges, seam allowances (carpet rolls are 12ft wide typically), pattern matching for patterned carpets (can add 15-20%), and having matching material for future repairs. Oddly shaped rooms or hallways need more waste allowance—up to 20%.

Yes, padding extends carpet life, adds comfort, and improves insulation. Standard 6lb padding costs $0.30-0.60/sq ft. Premium 8lb padding costs $0.60-1.00/sq ft. Memory foam costs $1.00-2.00/sq ft. Higher-quality carpets need thicker padding—minimum 7/16" thickness for cut pile, 3/8" for loop pile. Skipping padding voids most carpet warranties.

Installation labor runs $1-3 per square foot, averaging $2/sq ft. Old carpet removal adds $0.50-1.50/sq ft. Moving furniture is sometimes included or $25-50 extra. A 500 sq ft job might cost: carpet $1,250 (at $2.50/sq ft), padding $200 (at $0.40/sq ft), installation $1,000 (at $2/sq ft), removal $375 = $2,825 total. Get 3+ quotes.