Enter the total length of the walls, the wall height, your roll size and any pattern repeat. The calculator shows how many strips you need and how many rolls to buy.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Wallpaper calculator works
Wallpaper is hung in vertical strips called drops, so the calculator works in strips rather than area.
- Drop length = wall height + 10 cm for trimming. If there is a pattern repeat, this is rounded up to a whole number of repeats so the pattern lines up.
- Strips per roll = roll length ÷ drop length, rounded down.
- Strips needed = total wall length ÷ roll width, rounded up.
- Rolls = strips needed ÷ strips per roll, rounded up.
The default roll is 10.05 m long and 0.53 m wide, which is the common UK size, but you can change both. Enter 0 for the repeat on plain paper.
Doors and windows reduce the count only in whole strips: their combined area (1.85 m² per door and 1.4 m² per window) is divided by the area of one strip, and that number of strips is taken off. The tool also suggests buying one spare roll. If a single drop is longer than the roll, it shows an error.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Total length of walls | 18 m |
| Wall height | 2.4 m |
| Roll width | 0.53 m |
| Roll length | 10.05 m |
| Pattern repeat | 32 cm |
| Doors | 1 |
| Windows | 2 |
Rolls needed: 11 rolls
| Strips (drops) needed | 31 |
|---|---|
| Length of each drop | 2.56 m |
| Strips per roll | 3 |
| Buy one spare roll | 12 rolls in total |
Tips and common mistakes
Measure every wall you will paper and add the widths together. Check the pattern repeat on the label, as a large repeat can use much more paper. Buy all rolls from the same batch number, because shades can vary between batches.
Keep the spare roll for repairs or a miscut. For awkward rooms with alcoves, chimney breasts or sloping ceilings, add extra strips yourself, as the tool assumes simple straight walls. If you are painting rather than papering, use the Paint calculator calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard UK wallpaper roll?
Standard rolls are commonly 10.05 m long and 0.53 m wide. Check the label, as some papers are different, and edit the values in the tool.
What is a pattern repeat?
It is the vertical distance before a pattern starts again. Matching it between strips wastes some paper, so the tool rounds each drop up to a whole repeat.
Should I buy a spare roll?
The tool suggests it. A spare covers mistakes and later repairs, and a later batch might not match the colour exactly.