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CostToUpgrade
Flooring

Carpet Calculator

Find out how much carpet to order. Enter your room dimensions and a waste allowance to get the area in square feet and square yards — the unit carpet is sold in — plus an estimated cost.

Reviewed by The CostToUpgrade Estimating Desk Last reviewed How we estimate

Your project

Room
Material

Add 10% for seams and trimming; more for stairs or odd shapes.

Pricing

Carpet is usually priced per square yard. $20–$45/yd² is common.

Estimate

22yd²

Carpet needed · Includes waste allowance

Room area
180ft²
Estimated material cost
$660.00

Estimates are guidance only and exclude tax, labor, and site conditions unless stated. Confirm with a local pro.

How it's calculated

No black boxes — here is the exact math behind your estimate, so you can check it or adapt it for your own quote.

  1. 1Room area (ft²) = length × width
  2. 2Area with waste = room area × (1 + waste% ÷ 100)
  3. 3Square yards = area with waste ÷ 9
  4. 4Cost = square yards × price per yd²

Worked example

A 15 ft × 12 ft bedroom with a 10% waste allowance.

Inputs

Room length
15 ft
Room width
12 ft
Waste allowance
10 %
Price per yd²
30 $/yd²

Result

Carpet needed
22 yd²
Room area
180 ft²
Estimated material cost
$660.00

Tools & materials for this project

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

  • Carpet padding Adds comfort and extends carpet life underfoot.
  • Carpet knee kicker Stretch and seat carpet against the walls.
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Carpet cost by state

The calculator does the quantity math exactly. What it can't know is what a fair unit price looks like where you live — carpet runs 61% more in the priciest US market than the cheapest.

Carpet cost in all 50 states + DC US average $4.50 per square foot installed · regional averages, full ranked table, and typical project totals.

Frequently asked questions

How is carpet measured and sold?
Carpet is sold by the square yard, even though rooms are measured in square feet. To convert, find the room area in square feet, add about 10% for waste, then divide by 9. A 15×12 room (180 ft²) works out to roughly 22 square yards with waste.
Why does carpet have so much waste?
Carpet comes in fixed roll widths (commonly 12 feet), so fitting it to a room almost always leaves offcuts. Seam placement, pattern matching, and stairs add more, which is why a 10% allowance — or higher for complex layouts — is standard.
Does this include padding and installation?
No — this estimates the carpet material only. Carpet padding, tack strips, and installation labor are usually quoted separately, often per square yard or square foot.