How to Measure for Wall to Wall Carpeting
- 1). Stretch a tape measure across the width of the room. Make a note of the measurement on a piece of paper with a pencil. For example, a room measures 10 feet 3 inches wide. A carpet style that is produced in 12-foot widths will work because it can be trimmed to width. But if the room is 13 feet 2 inches wide, the carpet installer will have to create a seam along the width of the room.
- 2). Stretch a tape measure across the length of the room. Make a note of the measurement on a piece of paper with a pencil. For example, a room measures 17 feet 3 inches long. The room length measurement is only used to figure the total square yardage of the room. Carpeting is produced in long rolls, so a long room is not difficult to accommodate.
- 3). Use the width and the length measurement to figure the square yardage of the room. Carpet is most commonly sold by the square yard, even though many flooring stores will advertise carpet prices by the square foot. This is done so the customer can compare different flooring types, which are typically sold by the square foot, easily. The room in the example measures 10 feet 3 inches wide by 17 feet 3 inches long. Round the measurements up to the nearest foot. Then multiply the numbers together with a calculator to get a total square footage: 11 feet x 18 feet = 198 square feet. There are nine square feet in a square yard, so divide the total number of square feet by nine to get the total number of square yards: 198 / 9 = 22 square yards.
- 4). Add the total square yard measurements for each individual room to find the grand total amount of carpet that is needed to cover your floors. When actually purchasing carpet for your home, the retailer may require a professional carpet measure to take place before ordering and installing the carpeting for you. This is in your best interest. The professional measurer not only takes your measurements, but they also devise a full installation plan for the areas you would like the carpeting installed.
- 5). Use your own measurements to help you plan for cost estimates. Use the professionally produced measurements for the actual installation of the carpet. Advertised installation prices only include basic costs. Other labor tasks (stair installation, carpet removal and haul-away) are going to be extra expenses.
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