Primary material
18 sq yd with waste
Carpet
Use the square yards with waste as a buying starting point, then confirm the roll width, style, and dye lot with the store.
Carpet calculator
Carpet calculator for installation cost and square yards.
Estimate carpet area with waste, square yards for a broadloom order, pad, labor, old-carpet removal, installed total, and cost per square foot.
12 x 12 bedroom
$1,087
$7.55/sq ft installed estimate
Carpet to order
18 sq yd
area with waste, 12 ft rolls
Planning range
$446-$1,728
based on stored cost bands
Quick reference
Carpet and installed cost for common room sizes
Square yards with the default 10% waste, and the installed range using the calculator defaults for pad, labor, and removal.
| Room size | Floor area | Carpet to buy | Installed range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 13.0 sq yd | $310 – $1,200 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 sq ft | 18.0 sq yd | $446 – $1,728 |
| 12 x 15 ft | 180 sq ft | 22.0 sq yd | $558 – $2,160 |
| 15 x 20 ft | 300 sq ft | 37.0 sq yd | $930 – $3,600 |
| 20 x 20 ft | 400 sq ft | 49.0 sq yd | $1,240 – $4,800 |
Broadloom comes in 12 ft wide rolls, so rooms wider than 12 ft need a seam.
Quick cost answers
Common carpet cost checks
12 x 12 bedroom
144 sq ft before waste
$1,087
$7.55/sq ft
range: $446-$1,728
10 x 20 living room
200 sq ft before waste
$1,510
$7.55/sq ft
range: $620-$2,400
20 x 20 basement
400 sq ft before waste
$3,020
$7.55/sq ft
range: $1,240-$4,800
14 x 16 family room
224 sq ft before waste
$1,691
$7.55/sq ft
range: $694-$2,688
Stairs and seams
Stairs, hallways, and rooms wider than a 12 ft roll add seams and waste. Raise the waste allowance and add the stair run to the extra-area field for a closer estimate.
Shopping and quote prep
Carpet, pad, and installation
Under the carpet
144 sq ft
Carpet pad
Pad follows the room area, not the waste. Match the density and thickness to the carpet warranty and the room traffic.
Installed route
Carpet installation quotes
Use the installed total to compare local quotes. Ask each about pad, tack strip, seams, stairs, furniture moving, and old-carpet haul-away.
Install supplies
Tack strip, seam tape, and tools
A DIY carpet job needs tack strip, seam tape and iron, a knee kicker or power stretcher, and a sharp carpet knife.
Formula shown
How the carpet calculation works
1. Measure floor area
floor area = length x width + extra area
2. Add waste and convert
area with waste = floor area x (1 + waste); square yards = area / 9
3. Price line items separately
carpet = area with waste x price; pad/labor/removal = floor area x rate
4. Installed total
installed = carpet + pad + labor + removal
What is not included
This calculator does not separately price stairs, custom seams, subfloor or tack-strip repair, transitions, furniture moving, or haul-away. Keep those as separate quote lines when comparing bids.
Sources
- HomeGuide carpet installation cost — 2026 carpet material, pad, labor, and removal cost per square foot
- Angi carpet installation cost — 2026 installed carpet cost ranges and replacement factors
- Homewyse cost to install carpet — material and labor cost breakdown per square foot
Sources checked
Checked against
Box coverage, waste factors, and cost ranges checked against retailer calculators and published cost guides.
How we check our numbersLast updated: July 3, 2026
Estimate only.
This calculator is not a quote. Verify product yield, price, delivery minimums, and local conditions with your supplier or contractor before buying materials.
FAQ
Carpet calculator questions
Answers for carpet square yards, square-foot vs square-yard pricing, installed cost, pad, and quote limitations.
How do I calculate how much carpet I need? + -
Measure each room length by width for the floor area, add a waste allowance for seams and direction (10% is a common starting point, more for stairs and hallways), then divide by 9 to convert square feet to square yards. Carpet is milled in 12 ft wide broadloom rolls, so real projects carry seam and cut waste.
Is carpet sold by the square foot or square yard? + -
Both. Retail displays often price carpet per square foot, but the trade still orders and seams it by the square yard (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft). This calculator shows the area with waste in both square feet and square yards so you can match either quote.
How much does it cost to install carpet? + -
Installed carpet commonly runs about $3.50 to $12.50 per square foot in 2026, with most mid-range projects near $5 to $8 per square foot. That includes carpet material, pad, and labor. This calculator separates carpet, pad, labor, and old-carpet removal so you can adjust each line to your quote.
Do I need new carpet pad? + -
Usually yes. Pad is replaced with the carpet in most installations and its density affects comfort and warranty. Pad follows the room area rather than the carpet waste, so it is priced separately here and can be toggled off if a quote reuses existing pad.
Is this carpet estimate a contractor quote? + -
No. It is an estimate only. Ask local installers what is included for pad, tack strip, seams, stairs, transitions, furniture moving, old-carpet removal, and haul-away before comparing prices.