If the thought of calculating how many wallpaper rolls you need makes you break into a sweat — take a deep breath. You don’t have to be a math whiz to learn how to measure for wallpaper. I promise.
Was I a total overachiever in algebra and art club? Yes. Do you need to be? Absolutely not.
This guide is here to help you confidently measure for wallpaper in order to figure out how many rolls of wallpaper you need — no graphing calculator required.
✏️ Before You Start: A Quick Note About the Numbers
Every wallpaper brand has different specs — meaning roll width, length, and coverage area can vary. The examples and printable guide below are based on our byHopeatHome wallpaper, which comes in the following standard:
Roll Width : 27 inches
Roll Length : 27 feet (that’s 9 yards)
Roll Coverage : 60.75 square feet
If you’re shopping wallpaper from somewhere else, always check the roll specs before doing your math. But the same formula used here should apply to most wallpaper (with the exceptions of mural styled artwork and rolls).
DISCLAIMER: Every installer will have a preference on how much extra yardage they will need to ensure that the pattern falls correctly, enough allowance for coverage, etc. This guide is meant to give you an estimate. Please ensure with your installer your final quantity of rolls needed for your project.
Let's do it. Try this one-step method.
This method requires some quick measurements of your wall and a one-step plug and play formula.
Let’s say you’re wallpapering one wall that’s 15 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Here’s how to measure your wall for wallpaper — the easy way:
Wall area = Width x Height Wall area = 15 ft x 10 ft = 150 square feet
150 ÷ 60.75 (sqft per roll) = 2.46 rolls → round up to 3 rolls
For Multiple Walls:
Just add up the square footage of each wall. For example:
Wall 1: 10 x 9 = 90 sq ft
Wall 2: 8 x 9 = 72 sq ft
Total = 162 sq ft
162 ÷ 60.75 = 2.66 → round up to 3 rolls
. . .
✨ Simple Tip : Always round up! It’s better to have a little extra than run out mid-wall — trust me. If your math lands somewhere close to the next whole number (like 2.7 or 2.9 rolls), we always recommend rounding up.
For example, if your calculations say you need 2.8 rolls, I’d go ahead and order 4 rolls . That extra roll gives you the wiggle room to line up your pattern repeat exactly where you want it — plus a little buffer in case of cutting errors, repairs, or future touch-ups.
Feeling Fancy? Try the Panel Method
If you want to get a little more precise, here’s how to calculate wallpaper needs using panels (also called “drops”).
Step 1: Figure Out How Many Drops Per Roll
Let’s say your ceiling is 8 feet high.
27 feet of wallpaper ÷ 8 ft wall height = 3.375 drops per roll
That means one roll gives you three full-length strips for an 8 ft wall.
Step 2: Calculate How Many Drops You Need
Let’s say you want to wallpaper four walls in a square-shaped room. We already know our ceiling height is 8 feet high, and each wall 10 feet wide:
10 ft x 4 walls = 40 ft = 480 inches 480 inches ÷ 27 inch roll width = ~17.8 drops needed
Step 3: Calculate How Many Rolls You Need
Since each roll gives you 3 drops, you’ll need:
17.8 ÷ 3 = 5.93 → round up to 6 rolls
✨ Remember : Always round up! It’s better to have a little extra than run out mid-wall — trust me. If your math lands somewhere close to the next whole number (like 2.7 or 2.9 rolls), we always recommend rounding up AND adding another roll.
How to Measure for Wallpaper - Sloped or Angled Walls?
You can break sloped walls into sections and calculate triangles... but why?
The easiest way to measure wallpaper for sloped walls is to treat the wall like a full rectangle :
01.
Measure from the tallest point of the wall (floor to ceiling)
02.
Measure the widest width from side to side
03.
Use those two numbers to calculate your square footage
04.
Your installer will trim the excess during installation
Yes, you’ll have more waste with angled walls — but that’s okay. Save the scraps for repairs or a little DIY moment later.
Measuring for wallpaper doesn’t have to be intimidating. Whether you’re styling a full room, an accent wall, or just want to dip your toe into pattern, getting your measurements right is the first (and easiest!) step.
If you ever need help figuring out how many rolls to order — especially if you’re working with one of our wallpapers — I’m happy to help. Shoot me a message, and I’ll make sure your space ends up looking as good in real life as it does in your head.
You’ve got this — ruler in hand, calculator optional.
