Carpet Calculator

Calculate how many square yards of carpet you need for any room or whole house. Add multiple rooms, account for roll width and seams, and get a full cost breakdown including pad and installation.

Add your rooms Multi-room total
ROOM NAME LENGTH (ft) WIDTH (ft)
Wider roll = fewer seams = better look
$
Budget: $8–$20 | Mid: $20–$40 | Premium: $40+
$
Standard pad: $4–$10/sq yd
$
Professional install: $3–$8/sq yd
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate square yards of carpet? ›
Measure each room in feet (length × width), add all rooms together for total square footage, then divide by 9 to convert to square yards. Add 10% for waste and cuts. For example: a 12×14 room = 168 sq ft + 10% = 184.8 sq ft ÷ 9 = 20.5 square yards. Always round up to the next whole yard. This calculator does all of that automatically for multiple rooms at once.
Why does carpet roll width matter? ›
Carpet is sold from rolls that are 12 or 15 feet wide (rarely 13.5 ft). If your room is wider than the roll, you'll need a seam. Seams are visible, can come apart over time, and represent waste where two pieces are cut and joined. A 15 ft wide roll eliminates seams in most rooms under 15 ft wide, giving a better appearance. For rooms over 15 ft wide, seams are unavoidable — plan them in less visible areas and run them parallel to the main light source.
Do I need carpet pad and is it included in carpet pricing? ›
Carpet pad (cushion) is almost always sold separately and is required under any wall-to-wall carpet. It adds comfort underfoot, extends carpet life by 20–30%, and improves insulation. Most retailers price carpet and pad separately. Standard 6 lb rebond pad costs $3–$6/sq yd. Premium 8 lb pad runs $6–$10/sq yd. When comparing carpet quotes, always confirm what's included — some "installed" prices bundle carpet, pad, and labor while others don't.
How much does it cost to carpet a house? ›
For a typical 1,500 sq ft house with 1,000 sq ft of carpeted area (bedrooms, living room, hallways): mid-grade carpet at $25/sq yd + $6 pad + $5 install = $36/sq yd total = approximately $4,000 installed (about 111 sq yards). Budget carpet can come in under $2,500; premium carpet with premium pad can exceed $8,000 for the same area. Always get at least 3 quotes from local carpet installers.

About this carpet calculator

This calculator lets you enter multiple rooms at once and produces a single grand total, which is how carpet is actually purchased and installed. It converts square feet to square yards (the standard carpet unit), applies your waste factor, and breaks out carpet material, pad, and installation costs separately so you can compare quotes accurately.

Stairs carpet

Stairs require approximately 1 sq yard per step (including the riser), so a 13-step staircase needs about 13–15 sq yards of carpet. Stair carpet is more labor-intensive to install and typically costs more per yard installed than room carpet. Berber and loop-pile carpets are generally not recommended for stairs due to snagging risk — cut-pile styles hold up better.