How to Measure a Room for Carpeting?

Lisa Vincent November 8, 2021

0 647 3 minutes read

Pulling apart a carpet is easygoing, but putting it back on is the issue. Many people do it themselves, while many take help from the carpeting installation service. Either way, the first thing you need to do is to measure the room.

When buying a brand-new carpet, we often get giddy about picking a color or pattern. But what we skip is measuring the size of the room. Needless to say, you don’t want to make a blunder buying an expensive carpet of the wrong size.

Hence measuring the room is essential before picking a carpet. Whether you install it or have someone else do it, you need to know the required dimensions. It may sound tough but don’t worry!

We’ll help you know all the basics and measure the room quickly. Let’s get started!

Tools You’ll Need to Measure a Room

Tape measure or a laser measuring tape
Piece of paper and writing instrument or note-taking app
Calculator
Ruler
Graph paper

Things to Keep in Mind Before Measuring a Room

The way to measure a room is the same whether you are putting it on carpet or other floorings.
Record actual measurements only. Don’t add extra centimeters on.
Measure the entire way to the doorways, including the width.
Also, count the number of doorways. So you can calculate the joining door bars and edges correctly.
Include any alcoves, dropbacks, or fireplace.
Some walls may not be parallel. So take measurements from wall to wall.
Measuring a room will be easier if two people are involved in this task. Just be careful about your fingers.

How to Measure a Room for Carpeting?

Measure Width and Length of the Room

Start with one end of the room and put the tape measure against the wall. Extend the tape measure to the opposite wall. Note down the measurement as the Length.
Repeat the same for the other two walls in the reverse direction. Note down the number as the width.

Tip: If the room is L-shape, measure it as a two-room. Measure the long part of the L as one room and similarly short part of the L as another. Measure the closets as another separate room.

Don’t Forget to Note the Middle of Doorways.

If a step cannot enter your room, there must be a doorway to go towards them. However, some rooms might have extra doorways to the bathrooms or closets. In that case, you need to measure the middle of the doorways.

Doing this will add 2-3-inches to your measurement. Some rooms have a doorway at the end room. If you have so, you need to add 6-inches to the total room dimensions.

If the wall has a doorway or a closet door, measure to the middle of the door frame. Consider the maximum number of inches. Also, consider one number per wall.
Sum up the number of doorway inches to the length or width as needed.

Measure Stairs for Carpet

Width x ((Run + Rise + Nose) x Number of stairs) = Area

Rise= Height of the step
Run= Length of the step
Nose= Horizontal, protruding edge of a stair

Here is the method to measure the area of stairs for carpeting;

Measure the rise and run on the stair and add one or two more as the value of the nose. Add all of them together.
Multiply this sum up number with the number of stairs.
Divide by 12 and assemble to find the number of feet.
Now measure the width and add to the nearest foot.
Multiply the width from one step by the Length from the previous step.
Include any landings if you have.
Multiply the width and length of the landing. Finally, add that number.

Calculate Square Footage

Now, you have got the measurements with allowances for doorways as well as stairs. Calculate the square footage by multiplying the width of the room with the Length.

Calculate the Carpet Widths

Calculating just the square footage of the room won’t make it. You need to consider the width of the carpet as well. Broadloom carpets come in some particular widths. The widths are 12 feet or 15 feet or 13 feet 6 inches.

Carpet sellers sell a carpet off the roll based on the length you need and the width of the roll. While carpeting a small area, you can buy a carpet remnant. This will save you from buying a carpet from the roll.

Add a Little Extra

After you are done with the measurements, add a little extra to your measurements. It should be done to be on the safe side. So you can get enough carpet even if the carpet is not perfectly straight. We suggest adding 3 inches to each measurement.

Wrap Up!

Up to now, you possibly have mastered the basics of measuring for carpet. The next move is to find the amount of carpet you need to give your room a new look.

If your room has an irregular shape or curved sides, the calculation may get much more difficult. In that case, it is wise to have the room measured by an expert.

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