How to Measure How Many Rolls of Wallpaper Are Needed

Measure how many rolls of wallpaper will cover a room.

Most wallpaper comes in double or triple rolls that are two or three times as long as a single roll. Calculate the wallpaper you need as single rolls, then divide by two or three to figure how many double or triple rolls to buy. Buy the entire amount you need, plus a little extra to account for error, at once, since companies manufacturer wallpaper in batches. This means that another roll purchased later may feature slightly different colors. Ask your store if you can return unopened rolls if you have any at the end. Keep partial extra rolls to patch rips or stains in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Calculator

Instructions

1. Measure the length of each wall in feet with a tape measure. Total the amounts.

2. Measure the height of the room in feet. Multiply this number by the total from Step 1 to calculate the total square feet of the walls.

3. Measure the height and width of each area that doesn't need wallpaper, such as doors, windows, built-in cabinets or bookcases. Multiply the height by the width of each area, then add the totals together. This gives the total square feet of areas that don't need wallpaper.

4. Subtract the result from Step 3 from the result from Step 2 to calculate the total square feet that you need to cover with wallpaper.

5. Divide the total by 30 to estimate the number of single rolls of wallpaper you need. A typical single roll will actually cover about 36 square feet. "The 6-square-foot deduction provides for normal cutting and ceiling level matching during trimming and hanging," according to Carol A. Sampson in "Estimating for Interior Designers."

References

• "Estimating for Interior Designers"; Carol A. Sampson; 2001
• "Mrs. Fixit Easy Home Repair"; Terri McGraw; 2001
• The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Selecting Wall Coverings