Ever ordered a carpet and ended up with a pile that’s too small… or just not quite enough?
Getting your measurements right is easier than it seems, and it’s the key to a perfect fit and keeping costs under control.
Accurate measurement is the key to achieving a perfect fit and controlling costs when carpeting a room or an entire home. Yet, for many homeowners, converting room size into square metres can be confusing, especially when dealing with irregular layouts or tricky corners.
In this carpet measurement guide for homeowners, we’ll show you how to measure a room for carpet, step-by-step, and calculate carpet area accurately before ordering your new flooring.
Let’s ensure your next carpet fitting measurement starts off right.
Before you grab the tape measure, take a moment to prepare. A few quick checks now can save you time, effort, and costly mistakes later. Think of it as laying the groundwork for a perfect fit.
Start with the basics: do you have everything you’ll need? Gather a few essentials before you begin:
Now, look around your space and see if the floor is clear enough to measure accurately. It’s easy to overlook small things that get in the way. Move furniture aside, roll up rugs, and take note of:
Before you start, double-check a few simple details:
Once everything’s ready, you’ll have a clear area and accurate tools. From here, it’s all about taking the proper measurements.
Now, let’s see how to do that step by step.
Measuring a room for carpet fitting isn’t complicated. Once you know how to take accurate measurements, you’ll be able to calculate your carpet area confidently and avoid costly mistakes.
Let’s walk through the process in five easy, practical steps.
Start with the longest wall in your room. Place your tape measure flat along the floor and measure from one end to the opposite wall.
It’s best to take your measurements in centimetres (cm) first, as this gives you more precision, especially in irregularly shaped rooms.
If your room’s longest wall measures 520 cm, note that number down.
Tip: If your walls aren’t straight, take two or three readings and record the largest one. It’s always safer to have a few extra centimetres than to fall short later.
Next, measure the widest part of the room, again keeping your tape flat along the floor. If your room includes recesses, alcoves, or doorways, be sure to measure them as well. Every corner counts when you’re planning a perfect carpet fit.
Let’s say the width of your room is 410 cm.
Pro Tip: If one end of your room is slightly wider than the other, take multiple measurements and use the largest figure to ensure complete coverage.
Since carpet is usually sold in square metres, you’ll need to convert your centimetre measurements into metres. This part is simple; just divide both your length and width by 100.
Length (m) = Length (cm) ÷ 100
Width (m) = Width (cm) ÷ 100
Now you’ve got both measurements in metres, ready for the next calculation.
To find your total carpet area, multiply the length by the width, both in metres.
Carpet Area (m²) = Length (m) × Width (m)
5.2 m × 4.1 m = 21.32 m²
That means your room requires approximately 21.32 square metres of carpet.
Tip: Always round up your result rather than rounding down. It’s better to have a bit of extra material than to run short during the fitting process.
Here’s where most people go wrong, skipping the “extra” allowance. You should always add around 5–10% more carpet to your total area. This covers any trimming, cutting waste, or irregular shapes that might appear around corners or door frames.
If your total carpet area is 21.32 m², adding 10% gives you: 21.32 × 1.10 = 23.45 m².
So, you should order approximately 23.5 square metres of carpet for a comfortable margin.
Not every room fits into a perfect rectangle, and that’s where things can get tricky. If your space has an L-shape, alcove, or corner extension, you can still calculate the carpet area accurately with a simple method.
Visualise your room as two (or more) smaller rectangles. Measure each section separately, noting the length and width in centimetres for every part.
If your L-shaped room splits into two parts:
Divide each centimetre measurement by 100.
Use the exact carpet area calculation formula:
Length × Width = Area (m²)
So:
Total Carpet Area = 12.0 + 3.0 = 15.0 m²
Always allow a bit of extra carpet to handle uneven angles or wall curves. This ensures full coverage and easy fitting, especially around corners or door frames.
Pro Tip: Sketch your room layout roughly on paper. Mark each measurement clearly, as it helps the carpet fitter plan cuts efficiently and reduce waste.
Measured your space accurately? Great!
That was the toughest step; now we’re here to help you complete the process seamlessly.
At Carpet Company UK, we take your carpet fitting measurement and ensure it results in a perfect fit. Whether your space is straightforward or has tricky corners, our team reviews your figures to recommend the best carpet type, width, underlay, and fitting approach.
Just send us your figures (or upload your diagram), and we’ll:
You’ve done the hard work!
Now step back, relax, and let us make sure it all comes together just right.
Now, share your room measurements with us, and browse our latest carpet collections to find your perfect match today. We’ll ensure it fits flawlessly.
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