Carpet Calculator
Carpet is sold and priced in square yards — one square yard equals 9 square feet. Carpet rolls are typically 12 feet wide; some commercial carpet comes in 15-foot widths. Rooms wider than the roll width require a seam, and the placement of that seam affects waste significantly. This calculator converts room dimensions to square yards, adds your waste factor, estimates carpet padding (sold by the yard, usually 8lb density for residential), and calculates total material cost. Waste factor for a simple rectangular room is 5–10%; for L-shaped rooms or rooms requiring seams, use 15%. Always buy carpet and padding together from the same supplier and install the padding before the carpet. Tack strips run the perimeter of the room and are sold separately.
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How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your measurements in the fields above. Use the units shown next to each field (ft, in, etc.).
- 2Click Calculate to get your material estimate instantly.
- 3Review the highlighted result — it shows the key quantity you need to order.
- 4Use Copy Results to save your estimate, or bookmark the URL — your inputs are encoded in the link.
Pro tip: Always add 10% to your material order to account for waste, cuts, and defects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert square feet to square yards for carpet?
Divide square feet by 9 to get square yards. For a 15×12 ft room: 180 sq ft ÷ 9 = 20 sq yds. Always add 10% for waste, so you'd order 22 square yards.
How much does carpet installation cost?
Professional carpet installation typically costs $1–$4 per square foot ($9–$36 per sq yd) in addition to material cost. Budget-grade carpet costs $12–$20/sq yd; mid-grade $25–$50/sq yd; premium $50–$100+/sq yd installed.
What is the best carpet padding thickness?
For most residential carpet, 7/16" thick padding at 6–8 lb density is the standard recommendation. Thicker is not always better — padding over 1/2" thick can void some carpet warranties and cause the backing to flex and break down faster. For Berber and loop-pile carpets, use a firm, thin pad (3/8" max).
How long does carpet last?
Quality residential carpet lasts 10–15 years in moderate-traffic areas, 5–10 years in high-traffic areas like hallways and stairs. Nylon is the most durable fiber; polyester is less expensive but pills faster; wool is the premium choice lasting 20+ years. Replace carpet when it no longer holds its shape after cleaning or when padding shows compression.