Paint & interior · updated 2026
Carpet Calculator — Square Yards
Carpet is the one flooring sold in square yards — because it comes on 12-ft-wide rolls and has been priced that way for a century. This carpet calculator converts your room's square footage to square yards (divide by 9), adds 10% cutting waste, and returns the yardage plus the same figure for carpet pad, with 2026 installed costs. Rooms wider than 12 ft need a seam; the calculator's waste covers it, but plan the seam in a low-traffic spot.
10% standard; 15% for patterned carpet that needs matching
Show the math
Square feet = 12 × 15 = 180.0 sq ft
Square yards = 180.0 ÷ 9 = 20
With 10% waste = 20 × 1.10 = 22 sq yd (round up when ordering)
Pad = 22 sq yd (same as carpet)
Installed = 22 × $30–$60/sq yd
What the numbers mean
The calculator converts your measurements into a practical purchase quantity using a documented coverage or spacing assumption.
Any whole-unit quantity is rounded up so the result does not leave you short during the project.
Use the cost range as a planning baseline and confirm the final quantity, availability, and delivery charge with your local supplier.
2026 material prices
| Material | 2026 average price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet, materials only | $15.00 – $30.00 / sq yd | $1.65–$3.35 per sq ft |
| Carpet pad | $5.00 – $8.00 / sq yd | 7/16-in, 8-lb rebond is the standard |
| Installed (carpet + pad + labor) | $30.00 – $60.00 / sq yd | Most residential jobs |
Material prices: Wave 1 Batch 2 2026 national-average guide, Sep 2026. Local prices vary. 2026 U.S. national averages. Prices vary by region and retailer — confirm locally before buying.
Pro tips
- Never skip the pad to save money — a $5/sq-yd pad doubles carpet life; cheap pad is the most expensive savings in flooring.
- Patterned carpet needs 15% waste for pattern matching; solids and textures are fine at 10%.
- Plan seams in low-traffic areas and away from doorways — and never put a seam perpendicular to a doorway.
- For stairs, measure each tread and riser individually — the “one extra yard” guess is how stair jobs run short.
- 12-ft roll width means a 13-ft-wide room needs a seam; rotate the layout mentally before the installer arrives.
- A 12×15 room needs 22 square yards — at $30–$60 installed, that's $660–$1,320 all-in.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How many square yards of carpet for a 12×15 room?
180 sq ft ÷ 9 = 20 sq yd, plus 10% waste = 22 sq yd — order 22.
How about a 10×12 bedroom?
120 ÷ 9 = 13.3, plus 10% = 14.7 → 15 sq yd.
Do I need the same amount of pad?
Yes — pad yardage matches carpet yardage exactly: 22 sq yd of pad for the 12×15 room.
Why is carpet sold in square yards?
It comes on 12-ft-wide rolls (4 yards), and the trade has priced it per yard for a century — divide sq ft by 9 to convert.
What if my room is wider than 12 feet?
You'll have a seam — the 10% waste covers the extra, but plan its location before install day.
What does installed carpet cost per square yard?
$30–$60/sq yd all-in (carpet, pad, and labor) for typical residential carpet.
Related calculators
Planning estimates only. Prices are 2026 U.S. national averages and vary by region — confirm with your local supplier before buying.