Cost Calculator AI
Home & LivingSq Ft & Sq Yards

Carpet Cost Calculator

Calculate required carpet square footage and square yards (with roll waste), carpet material cost, underpad/padding cost, and installation labor.

Carpet, Padding & Installation Inputs

Select Display Currency:
Carpet Project Quote
Total Carpet Estimate
$1,566.60

308.0 sq ft (34.22 sq yards) required with waste

Carpet Material Cost$985.60
Carpet Padding Cost$231.00
Installation & Removal Cost$350.00

Carpet, Padding & Installation Formula

Required Area = Room Area ร— (1 + Waste %); Total = Required Area ร— (Carpet $/sq ft + Padding $/sq ft) + Installation
  • Required Carpet Area (sq ft) = Room Area ร— (1 + Waste % รท 100).
  • Required Square Yards = Required Carpet Area (sq ft) รท 9.
  • Total Estimate = Material Cost + Padding Cost + Installation Labor + Flat Stairs/Removal Fee.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Scenario: Carpeting a 280 sq ft bedroom with 10% roll waste, padding, and installation

Calculation Steps:

  1. Required Carpet & Pad Area = 280 ร— 1.10 = 308 sq ft (34.22 sq yards)
  2. Carpet Material = 308 ร— $3.20 = $985.60; Padding = 308 ร— $0.75 = $231.00
  3. Installation Labor = 280 ร— $1.25 = $350.00
  4. Total Carpet Estimate = $985.60 + $231.00 + $350.00 = $1,566.60
Result: The total carpet project estimate is $1,566.60 for 308 sq ft (34.22 sq yd) of material.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Enter the net floor area of the room(s) in square feet and the roll waste percentage (typically 10%).
  2. 2Enter the carpet price per square foot, padding price per square foot, and installation rate.
  3. 3Optionally add any flat fee for stair carpeting or old carpet tear-out.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Applies waste factor to both broadloom carpet and carpet padding.
  • Converts square feet to square yards using 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does carpet have higher roll waste than plank flooring?

Broadloom carpet comes on fixed 12-foot (or 15-foot) wide rolls and must be laid with the pile nap running in the same direction across all seams.

How do I convert a per-square-yard carpet quote to per-square-foot?

Divide the square-yard price by 9. For example, $28.80 per square yard equals $3.20 per square foot.

Does upgrading carpet padding make a difference?

Yes. A 7/16-inch, 8-lb density rebond foam pad absorbs foot traffic impact and prevents carpet fibers from crushing prematurely.

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