Carpet Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
How much extra carpet should I buy?
It's recommended to add 10-20% extra carpet to your calculated amount:
- 10% - Standard rectangular rooms with minimal obstacles
- 15% - Rooms with closets, alcoves, or irregular shapes
- 20% - Patterned carpet that needs matching, stairs, or complex layouts
- Extra tip: Keep leftover carpet for future repairs
What are standard carpet roll widths?
Carpet typically comes in standard roll widths:
- 12 feet (3.66m) - Most common width in North America
- 15 feet (4.57m) - Available for larger rooms to minimize seams
- 13.5 feet (4.11m) - Common in some European and commercial carpets
- Carpet tiles - Usually 18" x 18" or 24" x 24" squares
Knowing your roll width helps plan seam placement for the best appearance.
Where should carpet seams be placed?
For the best results, follow these seam placement guidelines:
- Place seams in low-traffic areas and away from doorways
- Run seams perpendicular to windows to minimize visibility
- Avoid seams in the center of rooms where they're most visible
- Keep seams away from high-wear paths between rooms
- For patterned carpet, align patterns across seams
How much does carpet installation cost?
Carpet installation costs vary by region and complexity:
- Basic installation: $1-$2 per sq ft ($11-$22 per sq m)
- With furniture moving: Add $0.50-$1 per sq ft
- Old carpet removal: $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft
- Subfloor repair: $1-$5 per sq ft if needed
- Stairs: $15-$45 per step
Always get multiple quotes and ask what's included in the price.
What's the difference between sq ft, sq yd, and sq m?
These are common area measurements used for flooring:
- Square feet (sq ft) - Common in the US for room measurements
- Square yards (sq yd) - Often used for carpet pricing (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft)
- Square meters (sq m) - Standard metric measurement (1 sq m = 10.76 sq ft)
Many stores price carpet per square yard, so knowing all conversions helps compare prices accurately.