How to Measure for Wallpaper Step by Step

Understanding Wallpaper Measurements and Basic Concepts

Before you start measuring your walls, it helps to understand how wallpaper is sold and what the measurements mean. Wallpaper typically comes in rolls, and the standard roll size in North America is 27 inches wide by 27 feet long, though some specialty papers use different dimensions. When manufacturers list wallpaper dimensions, they show the width first, then the length. A roll that measures 27" x 27' means it is 27 inches across and covers 27 linear feet when unrolled.

The pattern repeat is another important measurement to understand. This refers to how often a design repeats vertically on the wallpaper. If a wallpaper has a 24-inch pattern repeat, the design elements repeat every 24 inches down the roll. Some wallpapers have no pattern repeat (called a random match), while others might have repeats of 6, 12, 18, or 32 inches. The larger the pattern repeat, the more wallpaper you may need to purchase because installers must align patterns between strips, which creates waste.

Wall height is measured from the baseboard or floor to the ceiling or crown molding, depending on your design preferences. This measurement is critical because it determines how many usable strips you can get from a single roll. For example, if your walls are 9 feet tall and your wallpaper has an 18-inch pattern repeat, you cannot simply divide 27 feet by 9 feet to find how many strips fit in one roll. The pattern repeat means some material gets cut away to align designs properly.

Understanding these concepts prevents you from ordering too little wallpaper and discovering mid-project that you lack material, or ordering excessive amounts and wasting money. Take time to gather information about your chosen wallpaper's specifications before measuring your walls. Most wallpaper retailers and manufacturers provide this information on their product pages or on the back of sample books.

Practical Takeaway: Before measuring, identify the width, length, and pattern repeat of your chosen wallpaper. Write these numbers down and keep them accessible throughout your project planning.

Gathering Your Measuring Tools and Preparing Your Space

Accurate measurements begin with having the right tools on hand. You will need a tape measure that is at least 25 feet long—a standard 25-foot or 30-foot tape measure works well for most residential rooms. A steel tape measure provides better accuracy than cloth or plastic alternatives because it resists stretching and maintains its shape when extended. You should also have a notebook and pen to record all measurements as you take them. Many people take multiple measurements and then forget which number corresponds to which wall, so writing things down immediately prevents confusion.

A level can be helpful during measuring because it confirms whether your walls are truly vertical. Many older homes have walls that slant or bow slightly, which affects how wallpaper hangs. A 2-foot or 4-foot level works fine for this purpose. While you are gathering tools, also collect a straightedge or long ruler, a calculator for working through numbers, and ideally, a photograph or sketch of your room layout that you can mark with measurements.

Before you begin measuring, prepare your space by clearing obstacles from the walls you plan to wallpaper. Remove wall hangings, outlet covers, switch plates, and furniture that blocks your access to the full wall height. This takes extra time but prevents measurement errors caused by obstacles or the need to work around items. If your walls have significant damage, loose paint, or existing wallpaper you plan to remove, you may want to handle those tasks before measuring, as they might affect your final wall dimensions.

Document the room's features in writing. Note the locations of windows, doors, electrical outlets, light switches, crown molding, chair rails, or any architectural details. These features affect how you plan wallpaper placement and can impact how much material you ultimately need. Take several photographs of the room from different angles. These references become valuable when you are at the store choosing wallpaper and can help you visualize how patterns and colors work in your specific space.

Practical Takeaway: Gather a 25-foot tape measure, notebook, pen, level, and calculator. Clear your walls of obstacles and document the room's features in writing and photographs before you begin measuring.

Measuring Wall Height and Accounting for Patterns and Obstacles

Wall height is your starting point for determining how much wallpaper you need. Measure from the floor or baseboard to the ceiling or top of your wall with your tape measure. Take this measurement in at least three different locations on each wall—typically at the left, center, and right—because walls are not always perfectly uniform in height. Record the largest measurement you obtain. If your measurements vary by more than a quarter-inch across a wall, note this variation in your records.

Once you have your wall height, you must account for pattern matching. If your wallpaper has no pattern repeat, you can use the wall height measurement directly. However, if there is a pattern repeat, the installer must cut strips to align the pattern across adjacent strips. This alignment typically wastes anywhere from 0 to the full pattern repeat measurement per strip, depending on how the pattern aligns when strips are placed side by side. Many installers estimate that pattern-matched wallpaper requires adding the pattern repeat measurement to your wall height to account for this waste.

For example, if your wall is 96 inches tall and your wallpaper has a 24-inch pattern repeat, add 24 inches to your wall height for calculation purposes. This gives you 120 inches (10 feet) as your effective height per strip. A standard 27-foot roll contains 324 inches of material. Dividing 324 by 120 equals 2.7, meaning you can get approximately 2 full, usable strips from each roll when accounting for pattern matching.

Windows and doors affect your measurements differently depending on their size and how you plan to handle wallpaper around them. A small bathroom window or a standard interior door may not require you to adjust your calculations significantly, as experienced installers can work around them efficiently. However, if you have large windows, glass doors, or unusual architectural features, measure the area of these obstacles. Some professionals subtract large window areas from your total wall area, while others account for them differently. Document these features so you can discuss them with the retailer when calculating final material needs.

Practical Takeaway: Measure wall height in multiple locations and record the largest measurement. Add your wallpaper's pattern repeat measurement to the wall height to account for installation waste. Note all windows, doors, and obstacles separately.

Calculating Linear Footage and Total Wall Area

After measuring individual wall heights, you need to measure the width of each wall to determine total linear footage around your room. Using your tape measure, measure the distance from one corner of a wall to the other corner. Do this for all walls you plan to wallpaper. Record these measurements clearly and note which measurement corresponds to which wall. It helps to sketch a simple rectangle representing your room and label each side with its width measurement.

Add all the wall widths together to get your total linear footage around the room. For example, if a room has walls measuring 12 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, and 10 feet, your total linear footage is 44 feet. This number represents how much linear distance around your room you need to cover with wallpaper, measured horizontally.

To convert linear footage into the number of strips you need, divide your total linear footage by the wallpaper width. Standard wallpaper is 27 inches wide, which equals 2.25 feet. If your room requires 44 feet of horizontal coverage and your wallpaper is 2.25 feet wide, you need 44 divided by 2.25, which equals approximately 19.5 strips. Round up to 20 strips to account for cutting and fitting adjustments.

Now you can calculate how many rolls you need. Recall from earlier that accounting for your wall height and pattern repeat, you determined how many usable strips you get per roll. If you get 2.7 strips per roll and need 20 strips total, divide 20 by 2.7, which equals 7.4 rolls. You would order 8 rolls to have sufficient material. Some professionals recommend ordering one additional roll as a buffer for mistakes, pattern matching issues, or future repairs. In this scenario, ordering 9 rolls would provide good security against running short.

Create a simple chart in your notebook documenting this calculation