Wallcovering Yardage Calculator: Easy and Accurate

How to Measure Fabric for Wall Coverings

Measuring fabric for wall coverings requires precision and careful planning. Start by measuring the height of your wall from floor to ceiling or from where the wallcovering will begin to where it will end. Next, measure the total width of all walls you plan to cover. When measuring, always use a steel tape measure for accuracy.

Consider these important factors when measuring:

• Measure each wall separately and add the widths together for total coverage
• Account for doors, windows, and other openings by measuring around them
• Add extra inches at top and bottom for trimming and adjustments
• Check if your walls are perfectly straight using a level
• Note the fabric width, as this determines how many vertical strips you need
• Consider pattern repeats if your wallcovering has a design that needs matching

Calculation of Wallcovering

Calculating wallcovering yardage involves several steps. First, determine how many vertical strips you need by dividing the total wall width by the fabric width. Round up to the nearest whole number since you cannot purchase partial strips.

The basic formula for wallcovering calculation is:

Yardage = (Wall Height × Number of Strips) ÷ 36 inches per yard

If your wallcovering has a pattern repeat, you need to add the repeat distance to each strip length. This ensures patterns align properly across strips. Most professionals recommend adding 15% waste factor for pattern matching, cutting errors, and future repairs.

How Accurate is the Wallcovering Yardage Calculator?

Our Wallcovering Yardage Calculator provides highly accurate estimates for your project. The calculator uses industry-standard formulas and includes recommended waste percentages that professional installers rely on. The accuracy depends on the precision of your measurements and how well you account for room features.

The calculator automatically factors in pattern repeats and waste allowance, typically 15% for pattern matching and installation errors. This percentage aligns with professional standards. However, for complex rooms with many corners, angles, or architectural features, you might want to increase the waste percentage slightly.

While the calculator is very reliable, always consult with a professional installer for large or complex projects. They can identify unique challenges in your space that might require additional material. It’s better to have slightly more fabric than to run short during installation.

How to Use the Wallcovering Yardage Calculator

Using our calculator is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps for accurate results:

• Enter Wall Height: Input your wall height and select your preferred unit (feet, inches, meters, or centimeters)
• Enter Total Wall Width: Add the combined width of all walls you plan to cover
• Specify Fabric Width: Enter the width of your chosen wallcovering fabric (typically 54 inches for most fabrics)
• Add Pattern Repeat: If your fabric has a repeating pattern, enter the repeat distance. Leave at zero for non-patterned fabrics
• Set Waste Percentage: The default 15% covers pattern matching and errors. Adjust if needed for your specific situation
• Click Calculate: The calculator instantly shows your required yardage with international conversions
• Use Reset: Clear all fields to start a new calculation

The calculator displays both base yardage and total yardage including waste. It also provides conversions to meters, feet, and square measurements for international reference. This makes ordering from suppliers worldwide much easier.

Calculation of Wallpaper Yardage with Repeat

Pattern repeat is the vertical distance before a design element repeats itself on the wallcovering. When working with patterned wallcoverings, you must account for this repeat to ensure patterns match seamlessly across strips. Ignoring pattern repeat leads to mismatched designs and wasted material.

To calculate yardage with pattern repeat, first divide the wall height by the pattern repeat distance and round up. Multiply this number by the pattern repeat to get the adjusted strip length. This ensures you have enough material to match patterns perfectly at every seam.

For example, if your wall is 96 inches tall and the pattern repeat is 20 inches, you need 5 repeats per strip (96 ÷ 20 = 4.8, rounded to 5). The actual strip length becomes 100 inches (5 × 20), giving you material for proper pattern matching.

Larger pattern repeats require more fabric because you’re essentially using full pattern cycles. A 24-inch repeat typically adds 20-30% more yardage compared to a 12-inch repeat for the same wall size. Always verify the pattern repeat measurement with your supplier before ordering.

Drop match and straight match patterns also affect yardage differently. Drop match patterns, where the design alternates between strips, often require additional material compared to straight match patterns. Our calculator accounts for standard pattern matching, but complex designs might need professional assessment.