Estimate carpet square yards, rolls needed, and total cost including waste and seams.
Waste accounts for pattern matching and seams. Standard is 10%.
Roll Direction: Most carpets have a "nap" (direction of the pile). Ensure all rolls are installed in the same direction to prevent shading differences.
Seaming: If your room width exceeds the carpet roll width (usually 12ft), seams are unavoidable. Place seams in low-traffic areas or under furniture if possible.
Acclimation: Let the carpet unroll and sit in the room for 24-48 hours before installation to flatten and adjust to room temperature.
Carpet is typically sold by the Square Yard, though some sellers price by the Square Foot.
Carpet comes on large rolls in specific widths (usually 12ft, 13.5ft, or 15ft). You cannot buy carpet by the exact inch; you buy the full width of the roll multiplied by the length you need.
For standard installations without patterns, 10% waste is standard. This accounts for trimming and small miscalculations.
For patterned carpets or rooms with many angles/jogs, increase the waste factor to 15-20% to allow for pattern matching and complex cuts.
There are 9 Square Feet in 1 Square Yard.
Formula: $Square Feet \div 9 = Square Yards$
Example: A 12x12 room (144 sq ft) is 16 square yards.