Carpet Calculator
Square yards of carpet for a room
Carpeting a room? Enter the dimensions to get the square feet and square yards to order — carpet is usually priced by the square yard.
Square feet vs. square yards
Carpet is sold by the square yard (9 ft²). We convert for you and add waste for seams and the fact that carpet comes in fixed roll widths (usually 12 ft), which creates offcuts.
Roll width and seam planning
Because broadloom carpet comes on 12-foot-wide rolls, a room wider than 12 ft needs a seam, and the leftover strip is often unusable — which is why real-world waste can run higher than the bare math suggests. Plan seams away from doorways and main traffic paths, and run the pile in one consistent direction.
Don't forget the pad
Carpet needs a separate cushion pad underneath, sold to match the carpet area. A good pad (typically 6–8 lb density for living areas) extends carpet life and feels far better underfoot. Stairs and high-traffic rooms call for a firmer, denser pad.
Carpet Calculator: frequently asked questions
How many square feet in a square yard of carpet?
9 square feet make one square yard.
Why do I need extra carpet?
Carpet rolls are a fixed width (often 12 ft), so fitting your room leaves offcuts; seams also need overlap.
How wide does carpet come?
Most broadloom carpet is made on 12-foot-wide rolls (some also 15 ft). Rooms wider than the roll need a seam, and the trimmed-off strip is often waste — so budget a bit more than the square-yard figure.