How Many Rolls of Wallpaper Do I Need? Single and Double Rolls by Room
Part of the project planner: Planning to paint a room or a house.
A room with 40 ft of wall, 8 ft ceilings and 40 sq ft of doors and windows has 280 sq ft of wall to cover, and with 15% for waste it needs 12 single rolls, which is 6 double rolls. A roll covers about 28 sq ft of wall after trimming. The wallpaper calculator works it out for your own walls, openings, roll and pattern.
Rolls by room size
For 8 ft ceilings and 40 sq ft of doors and windows, at three waste allowances (single rolls, with double rolls in brackets):
| Room | Wall area | 10% waste | 15% waste | 20% waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 10 ft (44 ft of wall) | 312 sq ft | 13 (7 double) | 13 (7 double) | 14 (7 double) |
| 12 × 12 ft (48 ft of wall) | 344 sq ft | 14 (7 double) | 15 (8 double) | 15 (8 double) |
| 14 × 12 ft (52 ft of wall) | 376 sq ft | 15 (8 double) | 16 (8 double) | 17 (9 double) |
| 16 × 14 ft (60 ft of wall) | 440 sq ft | 18 (9 double) | 19 (10 double) | 19 (10 double) |
| 20 × 16 ft (72 ft of wall) | 536 sq ft | 22 (11 double) | 23 (12 double) | 23 (12 double) |
How much waste for the pattern
- Plain, textured or random-match paper: 10%.
- Small repeat or a straight match: 15%.
- Large repeat or a drop match: 20%.
- Very large repeat: 25%.
The bigger the pattern repeat, the more paper is lost when strips are cut to line up. Read the repeat on the label.
How to measure
- Measure the distance around the room (all the walls to be papered) and the height from the baseboard to the ceiling.
- Multiply them for the wall area, and subtract the doors, windows and anything you will not paper.
- Add the waste for the pattern and divide by the coverage of a roll.
- Round up, and buy all the rolls from one batch so that the color matches.
An accent wall of 12 ft by 8 ft needs 4 single rolls with 15% waste.
Before you hang it
- Prepare the wall: fill holes, sand it smooth, and prime it, since the paper sticks better to a primed surface.
- Find a plumb line to start from, since walls and corners are rarely straight.
- Check the first roll for flaws and color before you cut, and keep the roll numbers.
- Use the paste or the adhesive that the maker recommends, and smooth the paper from the center out.
For paint see the paint calculator, and for a wall of boards the board and batten calculator. Estimates only: confirm the quantity with the seller.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many rolls of wallpaper I need?
Find the wall area (the distance around the room times the height, less doors and windows), add waste for the pattern, and divide by the usable coverage of a roll (about 28 sq ft for a single roll). A room with 40 ft of wall at 8 ft is 280 sq ft, so 12 single rolls with 15% waste.
How much wallpaper waste should I allow?
About 10% for a plain or random pattern, 15% for a small repeat or a straight match, 20% for a large repeat or a drop match, and 25% for a very large repeat.
What is the difference between single and double rolls?
A single roll covers about 28 sq ft of wall after trimming and matching, and a double roll twice that, about 56 sq ft. Wallpaper is often sold as double rolls: 6 double rolls for this room.
How many rolls for an accent wall?
A wall 12 ft wide and 8 ft high with 15% waste needs 4 single rolls (2 double). Buy an extra roll from the same batch.
Do I subtract doors and windows?
Yes, subtract their area, but only part of it if you have a pattern to match, since the paper around them is still cut from full strips. The calculator takes off the openings you enter.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.