How Many Rolls of Wallpaper Do I Need? UK Room Chart
A 4 × 3 m room with 2.4 m ceilings has 14 m of wall, and needs 7 rolls of standard 10.05 m × 0.53 m paper if the pattern is plain or a random match, and 9 rolls with a 32 cm repeat. The chart below gives the figures for other rooms.
Rolls by room size
Standard 10.05 × 0.53 m rolls, papering every wall, with 10 cm for trimming each drop and no deduction for doors or windows:
| Room | 2.4 m ceiling, plain or random match | 2.4 m ceiling, with a pattern repeat | 2.7 m ceiling, plain or patterned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 3 m (12 m of wall) | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| 3 × 4 m (14 m of wall) | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 × 4 m (16 m of wall) | 8 | 11 | 11 |
| 4 × 5 m (18 m of wall) | 9 | 12 | 12 |
| 5 × 5 m (20 m of wall) | 10 | 13 | 13 |
| 5 × 6 m (22 m of wall) | 11 | 14 | 14 |
The pattern repeat matters less than you might expect, and not in the way you might expect. A plain paper just fits four drops of 2.5 m on a 10.05 m roll, so on a 2.4 m wall a roll makes four drops. Add any pattern repeat, from 16 cm to about 85 cm, and a roll makes only three. On a 2.7 m wall it is three drops per roll either way. That is why the middle and right-hand columns match.
How it works
Wallpaper goes up in vertical strips called drops. The number of drops is the length of the walls divided by the roll width, rounded up. Each drop is as long as the wall is high, plus the pattern repeat (so you can match the pattern along the join) and about 10 cm to trim. A standard roll gives you only a few drops, so the number of whole drops that fit on a roll has a big effect on the total.
- For the 4 × 3 m room, 14 ÷ 0.53 = 26.4, so 27 drops. Each is 2.50 m long, so one roll makes 4 drops, and you need 7 rolls.
- With a 32 cm repeat each drop is 2.82 m long, and a roll gives only 3 drops, so you need 9 rolls.
Enter the walls you will actually paper into the wallpaper calculator. For a feature wall, use only its width.
Before you buy
- Check the repeat and the match on the label. A drop (or offset) match wastes more than a straight match.
- Buy all your rolls together, with the same batch number, because shades can vary between batches.
- Buy a spare roll for repairs. A discontinued paper, or one from a different batch, is hard to match.
- Prepare the walls. Fill and sand them, seal new plaster, and remove old paper.
Mistakes that cost people money
- Measuring the floor area instead of the length of the walls.
- Forgetting the pattern repeat, which is the biggest cause of running short.
- Starting in a corner. Corners are rarely straight, so use a plumb line or a laser level for the first drop.
- Cutting all the drops first. Cut and hang one at a time, and check the pattern before you cut the next.
Frequently asked questions
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need for a 4m x 3m room?
A 4 × 3 m room has 14 m of wall. At 2.4 m high you need 7 standard rolls (10.05 × 0.53 m) of plain or random-match paper, and 9 rolls if the pattern repeat is 32 cm.
How long is a standard roll of wallpaper in the UK?
The standard UK roll is 10.05 m long and 0.53 m wide, which covers about 5.3 m². Wider and longer rolls are sold, so check the label.
Do I take off windows and doors when I calculate wallpaper?
Not when you count drops. You still need full drops either side of an opening, and short pieces above and below it. Only with plain paper and a lot of openings might you save a roll.
How much extra wallpaper should I buy?
The calculation already allows for the pattern repeat and 10 cm to trim each drop. Add one spare roll from the same batch for repairs or mistakes.
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 check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.