How many rolls of wallpaper do I need?

Wall area minus openings, plus 10–25 % for the pattern repeat, divided by the usable coverage of a roll. Buy all rolls from the same dye lot.

Single roll or double roll?

American wallpaper is priced by the single roll but sold in double-roll bolts. A double roll covers about 50–56 sq ft usable; type the coverage printed on the label.

Every strip must be cut so the pattern matches the one beside it; a large repeat can waste most of a repeat per strip. Small or random-match patterns need 10 %.

Wallpaper calculator

Form 76 · Materials estimateFigures checked 2026-09-04

US customary

Measurements

Length(ft)

Width(ft)

Areas this size

Wall height(ft)

Doors21 sq ft each

Windows15 sq ft each

What you need

Quantity · Amount

01Wall area, openings deducted2 × (30 + 20) × 8 ft − 1 doors − 2 windows749 sq ft
02Paper to buy, with pattern allowance15 % for the repeat861 sq ft
03Rolls at 50 sq ft usable$45 per roll18 rolls$810

Total, paper$810

The material

Waste allowance(%)Pattern repeat: 10 % for small repeats, 20–25 % for large

Coverage per roll(sq ft)Usable: double roll ≈ 50–56 sq ft, single roll 25–28; check the label

Prices — put in what you were quoted

Price($ per roll)Double rolls $30–120

Total, paper749 sq ft of wall$810

Where these figures come from

Door 21 sq ft (3 × 7 ft) and window 15 sq ft: the usual estimating allowances.
Roll coverage: a double roll is nominally 56 sq ft; 50 usable after trimming.
Prices are typical US retail figures at the date on this sheet.

Type the room's length and width and the wall height, and the sheet works out the wall area (all four walls), takes off doors and windows, adds the pattern-repeat allowance, and counts rolls at the usable coverage per roll: about 25 sq ft for an American single roll, 50 for a double roll.

Worked examples

Bedroom 12 × 14 ft, 8 ft walls: 9 rolls — rolls at 50 sq ft usable, about $405 in paper.
Powder room 5 × 6 ft, 9 ft walls, one door: 5 rolls — rolls at 50 sq ft usable, about $225 in paper.

How it is worked out

Wall area = 2 × (length + width) × height, minus 21 sq ft per door and 15 sq ft per window. Rolls = wall area × (1 + repeat allowance) ÷ usable square feet per roll, rounded up. Cost = rolls × roll price.

The figures behind it

Door 21 sq ft (3 × 7 ft) and window 15 sq ft: the usual estimating allowances.
Roll coverage: a double roll is nominally 56 sq ft; 50 usable after trimming.
Prices are typical US retail figures at the date on this sheet.

Every figure here is an estimate. Materials vary with moisture, compaction and product; order a little extra and confirm quantities with your supplier.

Questions people ask

How many rolls of wallpaper do I need?: Wall area minus openings, plus 10–25 % for the pattern repeat, divided by the usable coverage of a roll. Buy all rolls from the same dye lot.
Single roll or double roll?: American wallpaper is priced by the single roll but sold in double-roll bolts. A double roll covers about 50–56 sq ft usable; type the coverage printed on the label.
Why so much waste?: Every strip must be cut so the pattern matches the one beside it; a large repeat can waste most of a repeat per strip. Small or random-match patterns need 10 %.

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