How many linear metres of carpet you need for any room. Handles standard AU roll widths, pattern repeat, joins and multiple rooms.
Carpet in Australia is sold by the linear metre — the length cut from a roll of fixed width. You don't order by the square metre; you order a length of roll. The most common roll width in Australia is 3.66 metres (equivalent to the old 12-foot roll). Some ranges come in 4.0 m or 5.0 m widths.
The calculator works out how many strips are needed to cover each room's width, multiplies by the room length, adds the pattern repeat allowance per strip, then applies your waste margin.
If your room is 4.0 m wide and you're using a 3.66 m roll, one strip won't cover it — you need two strips. Each strip runs the full length of the room. So for a 5.0 m long room, you'd order 2 × 5.0 m = 10 linear metres, plus waste.
If your room is 3.0 m wide and the roll is 3.66 m, one strip covers it — and you waste the offcut unless there's an adjacent room or hallway to use it for.
For plain or textured carpet with no pattern, there's no repeat to match. A standard 10% waste margin covers fitting cuts.
For patterned carpet, each additional strip needs to be offset to align the pattern at the join. A small repeat (under 25 cm) wastes around 0.20 m per strip. A large repeat (over 25 cm) can waste up to 0.50 m per strip. Your flooring retailer can confirm the exact repeat for the product you choose.
Pile direction also matters — all strips should run with the pile in the same direction (usually away from the main light source). A good installer will advise on layout.
When carpeting multiple rooms, an experienced installer will often use offcuts from a larger room to fill a smaller one (like a hallway or walk-in robe). If you're getting a quote, ask your installer to plan the layout across all rooms together to minimise waste.
Stairs require more material per tread due to wrapping and tacking. A standard flight of 13 stairs typically needs an additional 4–6 linear metres beyond what the rooms require. Add 15% waste if your project includes stairs.
Carpet is sold in linear metres from a roll of fixed width — most Australian carpet comes in 3.66 m or 4 m wide rolls. You need to calculate how many strips of carpet fit across your room and how long each strip needs to be, accounting for pattern repeat and seam placement. The calculator handles roll width, pattern repeat and multiple rooms automatically.
3.66 m is the most common roll width in Australia. 4 m rolls are also widely available. Choosing the right width for your room dimensions minimises seams and waste — a 3.6 m wide room carpeted with a 3.66 m roll needs only one strip with minimal trimming. The calculator compares both widths to show which gives less waste for your room.
Yes — always. Underlay extends the life of your carpet by absorbing foot traffic impact, improves comfort underfoot, adds thermal and acoustic insulation, and is required by most carpet manufacturers to maintain the product warranty. A quality 10 mm foam or rubber underlay is the standard choice for residential carpet in Australia.
Entry-level carpet starts around $20–$35 per m². Mid-range residential carpet runs $35–$65 per m². Premium wool or wool-blend carpet is $80–$150+ per m². Add $15–$30 per m² for underlay and $15–$25 per m² for professional installation including tack strip and stretching.
Loop pile (Berber) and cut-loop blend carpets are most durable for hallways and living areas. Look for carpets with a high face weight (over 30 oz or 1000 g/m²) and a twist level of 5 or above for resilience. Solution-dyed nylon is the most stain-resistant fibre for families with kids or pets — important in Australian homes where outdoor dirt comes inside easily.