Carpet Calculator
Calculate carpet and padding area for any room from dimensions.
Returns square footage with 10% waste, roll count, and estimated cost at your price per yard.
Carpet installation cost depends on the room area, the carpet material grade, and installation labor. The complete cost formula is:
Total Cost = (Area × Material Cost/sq ft) + (Area × Install Cost/sq ft) + Waste Allowance + Extras
Room Area Calculation:
For rectangular rooms: Area (sq ft) = Length × Width
For L-shaped or irregular rooms: divide into rectangles, sum all areas.
Waste Allowance (standard):
Purchase Area = Room Area × 1.10 (adds 10% for cuts, seams, and pattern matching)
For carpet with a repeating pattern: Purchase Area = Room Area × 1.15–1.20
Worked Example — Master bedroom 14ft × 16ft:
- Room area = 14 × 16 = 224 sq ft
- With 10% waste: 224 × 1.10 = 246 sq ft to purchase
- Carpet material (mid-grade nylon): $3.50/sq ft × 246 = $861
- Padding (8lb density): $0.75/sq ft × 246 = $184.50
- Installation labor: $1.25/sq ft × 246 = $307.50
- Furniture moving: $75
- Old carpet removal: $0.50/sq ft × 224 = $112
- Total estimated cost = $1,540
Cost Per Square Foot Reference (material only):
- Polyester: $1.00–$2.50/sq ft (budget)
- Nylon: $2.50–$5.00/sq ft (most popular, durable)
- Wool: $6.00–$15.00/sq ft (premium, natural)
- Triexta/SmartStrand: $2.00–$4.50/sq ft (stain resistant)
Rule of thumb: Full installation (carpet + pad + labor) typically costs $3.50–$7.00/sq ft for mid-grade products in most US markets.