Carpet Calculator Estimate how much carpet you need — including padding, waste, and installation — for any room or home. ...

Carpet Calculator

Estimate how much carpet you need — including padding, waste, and installation — for any room or home.

Room Dimensions

Enter each room’s length and width in feet. Add more rooms as needed.

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Waste Factor (%)

Carpet Cost ($/sq ft)

Padding ($/sq ft)

Installation ($/sq ft)

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Total Area (sq ft)

0

+ Waste (10%)

0

Carpet (sq yd)

$0

Estimated Total Cost

Room Layout Visualization

Diagram: Approximate room shapes and relative sizes (not to scale).

How Carpet Is Sold

Carpet is typically sold by the square yard (not square foot!). → 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft.

Carpet rolls come in standard widths: 12 ft (most common), 13 ft 6 in, or 15 ft. Your installer will cut and seam the carpet to fit your room — but waste is unavoidable due to pattern matching, room shape, and directional pile.

Waste factor (5–20%) is critical:

• 5–10%: Rectangular rooms, minimal seams
• 10–15%: L-shaped or multi-room layouts
• 15–20%: Stairs, hallways, complex layouts, or patterned carpet

Carpet Quality Guide

Don’t just compare price/sq ft — look at specs:

• Face Weight (oz/yd²): ≥35 oz = good; ≥50 oz = premium (more fiber = durable)
• Density (face weight ÷ pile height): >3,000 = excellent for high traffic
• Pile Height: Low (¼") for durability; high (¾"+) for luxury (but harder to clean)
• Fiber Type:
  • Nylon (6,6 or 6): Most durable, stain-resistant — best for homes
  • PET Polyester: Soft, eco-friendly (recycled bottles), but less resilient
  • Olefin (Polypropylene): Moisture-resistant — ideal for basements

Avoid carpets under $2/sq ft — they often have thin backing, low density, and poor warranties.

Padding Matters

Padding isn’t just comfort — it extends carpet life and affects warranty validity.

Type	Thickness	Best For
Foam (Rebond)	3/8"–7/16"	Most homes — good balance
Waffle Rubber	1/4"–3/8"	High traffic — durable
Fiber (Jute/Wool)	1/4"–1/2"	Luxury carpet — natural, breathable
Slab Rubber	3/8"	Premium — quiet, resilient

⚠️ Many warranties require specific padding — check before buying!

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter length and width for each room (in feet).
2. Click “+” to add more rooms.
3. Adjust waste factor based on room complexity (10% default).
4. Enter local prices for carpet, padding, and installation.
5. Click “Calculate”.

You’ll get:

• Total square feet and yards needed
• Cost breakdown (material, padding, labor)
• Visual floor plan showing relative room sizes

Note: This tool estimates material only. Stairs, closets, and irregular shapes may require professional measurement.