Carpet Calculator
Find out how much carpet to order for a room - in square feet and square yards, the two units every carpet store quotes in.
How to use this carpet calculator
Measure the room length and width in feet. Carpet is sold in 12-foot-wide rolls, so the width of your room determines how much is wasted as trimmings.
If either dimension exceeds 12 feet, the installer must seam two pieces - add one extra foot to the length for every seam to allow pattern matching and trimming.
Carpet is quoted in square yards: divide your square footage by 9. Always order 5-10% extra, because installers cannot splice a small missing piece invisibly.
Carpet calculator FAQ
How many square yards is a 12x12 room?
A 12x12 room is 144 sq ft, which is exactly 16 square yards of carpet before waste. With a plain carpet and clean seams, 16-18 sq yd is a safe order.
Why do carpet installers charge for waste?
Carpet comes in 12-foot-wide rolls, so a 14x12 room needs a 14-foot length of a 12-foot-wide roll: 168 sq ft of carpet for a 144 sq ft floor. That off-cut is still charged.
How much does carpet cost per square foot?
Installed carpet typically runs $3-$8 per sq ft in 2025-2026: $2-$4 for materials and $1.50-$3 for installation, padding and removal of the old carpet.