Carpet Calculator
Calculate carpet and pad needed in square yards with seaming and installation cost estimate.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: HomeAdvisor
Square Footage
180 sqft
Square Yards
20.0
Total Project Cost
$1,350.00
Carpet Details
| Room Area | 180 sqft |
| Square Yards | 20.0 |
| Seams Needed | 0 |
| Total Carpet Needed | 180 sqft |
Cost Breakdown
| Carpet | $900.00 |
| Carpet Pad | $180.00 |
| Installation | $270.00 |
| Total Project Cost | $1,350.00 |
Use the Carpet Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and the assumptions described on this page; check them against local building codes, product specifications and current prices, and have structural, electrical or gas work designed or checked by a licensed professional.
How It Works
A Carpet Calculator determines the amount of carpeting needed to cover a room or space, and often estimates the associated cost. This is crucial for accurate budgeting and preventing over- or under-ordering of materials, saving both time and money on renovation projects.
The calculator multiplies length by width for the room's square footage and divides by 9 for square yards. Carpet is cut in full-width strips from a 12- or 15-foot roll, so the carpet needed counts the whole width of every strip, leftover included; the calculator lays the strips in whichever direction uses less carpet and counts the seams between them. Cost is carpet at your price per square foot on the carpet needed, plus pad and installation on the room area; the defaults are $5, $1 and $1.50 per square foot. No waste percentage is added, so pad the total yourself for cuts, pattern repeats and out-of-square walls.
Always measure at the widest and longest points of a room, even if it's irregularly shaped. Don't forget to account for pattern repeats if your carpet has one, as this can significantly increase the required material.
Example: Carpeting a 15 × 12 ft Living Room
- 1 Input: a room 15 feet long and 12 feet wide, a 12-foot roll, pad included, and the default prices of $5 per sq ft for carpet, $1 for pad and $1.50 for installation.
- 2 Area: 15 × 12 = 180 sq ft, or 180 ÷ 9 = 20.0 square yards. The room is no wider than the roll, so there are no seams and the carpet needed is 180 sq ft.
- 3 Cost: carpet 180 × $5 = $900; pad 180 × $1 = $180; installation 180 × $1.50 = $270; total $1,350.
- 4 The calculator adds no waste. A 10% margin on the carpet would be 18 sq ft more, or $90 at $5 a square foot.
Source: HomeAdvisor · Last updated: September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate how much carpet I need?
How much does carpet installation cost?
What type of carpet pad should I use?
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