Why Carpet is Measured in Square Yards
Carpet is traditionally sold and priced by the **Square Yard ($\mathbf{yd}^2$)**, even though room measurements are typically taken in feet. This unit dates back to historical textile trades and remains the industry standard.
Key Carpet Sizing Considerations
The Roll Width Factor
- **Standard Widths:** Carpet comes in large rolls, primarily **12 feet** (4 yards) or sometimes **15 feet** (5 yards) wide.
- **Seams:** Installers must plan cuts to minimize seams, which often results in purchasing more material than the exact square footage of the room. This calculator uses a simple percentage for waste, but an actual layout plan is always more accurate.
- **Pattern Match:** If the carpet has a distinct pattern, extra material must be purchased to ensure the pattern aligns perfectly at the seams, requiring a higher waste factor (often $\mathbf{15\%}$ or more).
Total Project Cost Components
- **Material Cost:** The price per square yard calculated here.
- **Padding/Underlayment:** Essential for comfort, longevity, and insulation. Typically priced per square yard, separately from the carpet.
- **Installation Labor:** The cost charged by the installer, often priced per square yard of *installed* carpet.
- **Taxes and Extras:** Delivery, removal of old flooring, and special trims or stairs.
Conversion Fact
Remember the conversion: $\mathbf{1}$ **Square Yard** $= \mathbf{9}$ **Square Feet**. This is the fundamental ratio for all carpet measurements.