What Is a Square Yard of Carpet?

When shopping for carpet, you may come across measurements in yards instead of square feet. But what exactly does a square yard of carpet mean?

Carpet Is Measured in Square Yards

Unlike other flooring materials, carpet is typically sold by the square yard, which is a unit of area equal to 9 square feet (3 feet by 3 feet).

How to Convert Carpet Measurements

• 1 square yard = 9 square feet

A square yard is 9 square feet. Carpet rolls are commonly 12 feet wide, so one linear yard cut from a 12-foot-wide roll measures 3 feet by 12 feet and covers 36 square feet.

How Much Carpet Do You Need?

Carpet is sold in rolls that are 12 feet wide, so the amount needed depends not just on the square footage of the room but also on how the carpet is cut to fit.

To calculate how much carpet you need:

• Measure the length and width of the room from the center of each doorway, not just from wall to wall.
• Since carpet comes in 12-foot-wide rolls, determine how many linear feet you need based on the width of the space.
• If you have carpet installed in more than one room, adjoining spaces generally need the carpet installed in the same direction.
• Closets matter. Be sure to measure and include them in your calculations.

Homeowners should expect that the amount of carpet required may exceed the simple dimensions of their rooms because installers must work with standard roll widths, seams, closets, doorways, and room layout.

Seams should be minimized. While it is possible to piece together smaller sections of carpet to reduce waste, best practices in carpet installation emphasize keeping seams to a minimum and placing them thoughtfully when possible.

Get a Free, Accurate Estimate

Call Fashion Flooring for a free estimate. We will take precise measurements and calculate the amount of carpet required for your space. Learn more about our carpet installation, or browse carpet styles and colors in our Showroom.