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

• Carpet rolls are almost always 12 feet wide, so one yard of carpet from a standard roll would measure 3 feet long by 12 feet wide, covering 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.

• Keep in mind that if you have carpet installed in more than one room, each adjoining space must have 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 exceeds the dimensions of their rooms due to the constraints of working with 12-foot-wide carpet rolls.

• Seams should be minimized. While it’s possible to piece together smaller sections of carpet to reduce waste, best practices in carpet installation emphasize keeping seams to a minimum. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, seams should be strategically placed in low-traffic areas when possible, as excessive seams can lead to edge ravel, tuft loss, and seam separation, resulting in a less durable and less visually appealing installation.

Get a Free, Accurate Estimate!

Call Fashion Flooring today for a free estimate, where we’ll take precise measurements and ensure you get an accurate calculation of the amount of carpet required for your space.