Carpet Calculator
Advanced flooring estimator with seam visualization, pattern match logic, and material optimization. Calculate cuts, waste, and costs for residential and commercial projects.
Layout optimized by running carpet lengthwise.
Bill of Materials (B.O.M.)
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Estimated Cost | $0.00 | ||
About
Installing carpet is fundamentally different from installing tile or hardwood. While hard surfaces rely on net square footage, carpet is limited by fixed roll widths - typically 12 or 15 feet. This constraint forces a linear installation approach where geometry dictates waste. If a room is 12 feet 6 inches wide, you cannot simply buy the exact square footage; you must purchase a full 12-foot or 15-foot width for the entire length, or seam a strip, resulting in significant offcut waste.
The complexity increases with patterned carpets. To maintain visual continuity, patterns must match perfectly at the seam, requiring a specific "drop" or offset calculation. This tool solves these problems by simulating the actual installation layout. It determines the optimal cut strategy, accounts for pattern repeats (both vertical and horizontal), and provides a detailed Bill of Materials including padding, tack strips, and seam tape. It is designed to prevent the two most common flooring disasters: running short on install day or overspending on unneeded yardage.
Formulas
Accurate carpet estimation uses linear footage logic rather than simple area multiplication. The algorithm simulates unrolling the material and cutting it to fit the room dimensions, accounting for necessary overlaps and pattern matching.
1. Linear Requirements (Basic):
If Wroom ≤ Wroll ⇒ Lreq = Lroom + 0.5 (trim)
If Wroom > Wroll ⇒ Ncuts = ceil(WroomWroll)
2. Pattern Match Logic:
Lcut = Lroom + Offset
Where Offset = Prepeat − (Lroom mod Prepeat)
3. Total Material Area:
Areatotal = (Lcut × Ncuts) × Wroll
Note: The calculator automatically compares placing seams parallel to the length versus the width to find the most efficient layout (lowest waste factor).
Reference Data
| Material Type | Face Weight (oz/yd²) | Durability (1-10) | Softness | Stain Resistance | Avg. Price ($/sq ft) | Lifespan (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon 6.6 (Premium) | 40 - 60 | 9 | Medium | Very High | 4.50 - 8.00 | 15 - 20 |
| Solution-Dyed Nylon | 35 - 50 | 9.5 | Medium | Excellent | 3.50 - 7.00 | 15 - 20 |
| Triexta (SmartStrand) | 35 - 55 | 8.5 | High | Superior | 3.00 - 6.50 | 12 - 18 |
| Polyester (PET) | 30 - 50 | 6 | High | High | 1.50 - 4.00 | 5 - 10 |
| Olefin (Berber) | 20 - 35 | 5 | Low | High | 1.00 - 3.00 | 3 - 7 |
| Wool (Natural) | 40 - 80 | 8 | Very High | Moderate | 6.00 - 20.00 | 20+ |
| Frieze (Twist) | 30 - 50 | 7 | High | Good | 2.50 - 5.50 | 10 - 15 |
| Saxony (Plush) | 40 - 60 | 6 | Very High | Low | 3.50 - 7.50 | 8 - 12 |
| Commercial Loop | 20 - 28 | 10 | Very Low | Very High | 1.50 - 4.50 | 10 - 20 |
| Acrylic (Synthetic Wool) | 30 - 45 | 6 | High | Moderate | 3.00 - 5.00 | 7 - 12 |
| Sisal / Seagrass | 30 - 60 | 8 | Very Low | Low | 5.00 - 12.00 | 10 - 15 |