Do I need to measure under furniture?

Yes. Measure the full room including areas under furniture. Carpet is laid across the entire floor area before furniture is placed on top. Your fitter will move furniture as part of the installation process.

What if my room isn't square?

Most rooms aren't perfectly square. Always measure at the widest and longest points and use those figures. Your fitter will account for any irregularities during installation.

Can I measure in feet and inches?

Yes, but convert to metres for our calculator. 1 foot = 0.3048 metres. Most carpet is sold and measured in metric, so it's easier to measure in metres from the start.

Why do carpets come in 4m and 5m widths?

These are the standard loom widths used by carpet manufacturers. Most rooms can be covered with a single piece from a 4m or 5m roll, minimising joins. Your fitter will advise on the most efficient cut for your specific room.

Should I measure myself or get a professional to measure?

For simple rectangular rooms, self-measuring is straightforward. For complex shapes, stairs or large areas, a professional measure is worth doing — it's free with us and ensures accuracy. Call 01173 250789 to arrange a free home visit.

How-To Guide 5 min read

How to Measure Your Room for Carpet: Step-by-Step Guide

Measuring your room correctly before ordering carpet saves money, prevents waste and ensures a perfect fit. This guide walks you through measuring any room — including awkward shapes, bay windows and alcoves.

By the Multi-Save Carpets team · Updated 2025 · Based in Bristol since 1955

What You Need

A steel tape measure (not a fabric one — they stretch), a pencil and paper to sketch the room, and ideally a second person to help hold the tape. A laser measure is even better if you have one.

Step 1: Sketch the Room

Before measuring, draw a rough sketch of the room on paper. Mark any alcoves, bay windows, chimney breasts, doorways or other features that affect the shape. This helps you plan your measurements and spot any areas you might miss.

Step 2: Measure Length and Width

Measure the longest length of the room from wall to wall, including any alcoves or bay windows. Then measure the widest width. Always measure at the widest points — if the room is not perfectly square, measure at multiple points and use the largest measurement.

Carpets come in standard widths of 4 metres and 5 metres. Your fitter will calculate the most efficient cut from these widths to minimise waste. For most rooms, a 4m width is sufficient. Larger rooms or those with awkward shapes may require a 5m width to avoid joins.

Step 3: Add Cutting Allowance

Always add a cutting allowance to your measurements. The standard practice is to round up to the next 10cm, then add a further 10cm for cutting. So a room measuring 3.45m in length becomes 3.5m (rounded up to next 10cm) + 0.1m = 3.6m.

This allowance ensures the fitter has enough material to work with and allows for any slight irregularities in the walls. Our free online calculator does this automatically — just enter your measurements and it will calculate the carpet area needed.

Step 4: Measure Awkward Areas

Bay windows: Measure the bay as a rectangle (the full depth and width of the bay opening) and add it to your room measurement.

Alcoves: Measure each alcove separately and add to the main room area.

L-shaped rooms: Divide the room into two rectangles, measure each separately, and add together. Note that the fitter will need to plan the cut carefully to avoid joins in visible areas.

Stairs: Measure the width of the staircase and the total run (number of steps × average step depth + riser height). Stairs are typically quoted separately from room carpet.

Step 5: Use Our Free Calculator

Once you have your measurements, use our free carpet calculator to get an instant estimate including carpet cost (at your chosen price tier), underlay, gripper rods and professional fitting.

Or call us on 01173 250789 and we'll arrange a free home visit — we'll measure up accurately, show you samples and give you a written quote with no obligation.