Wallpaper calculator: how many rolls?
Wallpaper is hung in full-height strips, so this calculator counts strips rather than dividing square feet: how many strips fit across the walls, and how many whole strips you can cut from one roll once the pattern repeat is matched.
Enter your measurements
More options: Trim
- Full-height strips
- 23 strips
- Strips per roll
- 3
- Wall area papered
- 312 sq ft
- Area of one roll
- 56.4 sq ft
Roll: 20.5 in × 33 ft = 56.4 sq ft
Perimeter 48 ft − 9 ft of doors and windows = 39 ft ÷ 20.5 in roll width = 23 strips
Strip: 8 ft + 4 in trim = 8.33 ft
33 ft roll ÷ 8.33 ft = 3 strips per roll → 23 strips ÷ 3 = 7.67 → 8 rolls
- Each roll gives 3 full strips of 8.33 ft; the offcut of about 8 ft per roll covers the short pieces over doors and under windows.
- Buy all rolls with the same batch (lot) number, and one spare: a later batch can differ slightly in color.
Quick answers for common sizes
| Example | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many rolls of wallpaper for a 12x12 room | 8 rolls (double rolls, 23 strips) |
| How many rolls of wallpaper for a 10x10 room | 7 rolls (double rolls, 19 strips) |
| How many rolls of wallpaper for one wall | 3 rolls (double rolls, 8 strips) |
| How many square feet in a roll of wallpaper | 56.4 sq ft (US double roll) |
Rolls by wall height (same room and roll)
| Wall height | Strips per roll | Full-height strips | Rolls to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 ft | 4 | 23 strips | 6 rolls |
| 8 ft | 3 | 23 strips | 8 rolls |
| 9 ft | 3 | 23 strips | 8 rolls |
| 10 ft | 3 | 23 strips | 8 rolls |
Doors and windows each save about 3 ft of full-height strips; the short pieces above and below them come out of the offcuts left on each roll. New to this? Paint words explained.
How the wallpaper calculator works
strips = (perimeter − 3 ft per door and window) ÷ roll width, rounded up strip length = wall height + trim + one pattern repeat (1½ for a half-drop match) strips per roll = roll length ÷ strip length, rounded down rolls = strips ÷ strips per roll, rounded up
Counting strips is more reliable than dividing the wall area by the roll area, because the end of every roll is wasted when the wall height doesn’t divide evenly into it. Graham & Brown’s own guide starts from the area and then warns you to allow extra for the pattern repeat and trimming; counting strips does that automatically.
Roll sizes
| Roll | Size | Area | Full strips at 8 ft walls |
|---|---|---|---|
| US double roll | 20.5 in × 33 ft | 56.4 sq ft | 3 (no repeat) |
| US single roll | 20.5 in × 16.5 ft | 28.2 sq ft | 1 (no repeat) |
| Wide double roll | 27 in × 27 ft | 60.8 sq ft | 3 (no repeat) |
| European roll | 0.53 × 10.05 m | 5.33 m² (57.3 sq ft) | 3 (no repeat, 2.44 m walls) |
US wallpaper is often priced per single roll but sold only in double rolls, which is why the count here is in the roll size you pick. See how many square feet in a roll of wallpaper.
Worked examples
- How many rolls of wallpaper for a 12x12 room: 23 strips, 8 double rolls.
- How many rolls of wallpaper for a 10x10 room: the small bedroom or powder room.
- How many rolls of wallpaper for one wall: a 12 ft accent wall.
- How many square feet in a roll of wallpaper: single, double and European rolls compared.
Tips
- Buy one more roll than the count, from the same batch: it covers a mis-cut strip and future repairs.
- Prime walls with a wallpaper primer (sizing) so the paper slides into place and can come off later.
- Start at a corner or the least visible spot and work around; the last strip rarely matches the first.
- Pattern repeats cost more than people expect. On 9 ft walls, a 33 ft double roll gives 3 strips of plain paper but only 2 of a paper with a 21 in repeat, because each cut is a full repeat longer. That is exactly what the strip count shows.
What you’ll need
- Wallpaper hanging kitBudget price
A smoother, seam roller, trim guide and sharp knife: the four tools that decide whether seams disappear.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cross-line laser levelMid-range price
Gives a plumb line for the first wallpaper strip and a level line for accent walls and two-tone paint.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Snap-off utility knife and bladesBudget price
Wallpaper and drywall both reward a fresh blade. Snap often.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 25 ft tape measureBudget price
Measuring rooms, openings and sheets. A wide, stiff blade reaches across a ceiling without buckling.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need for a 12x12 room?
About 8 US double rolls for 8 ft walls with a door and two windows and a plain or small-repeat paper. See how many rolls of wallpaper for a 12x12 room.
How many square feet are in a double roll of wallpaper?
A 20.5 in × 33 ft double roll is about 56 sq ft before matching and trimming. See how many square feet in a roll of wallpaper.
Is a European roll the same as an American double roll?
Close in area (about 57 sq ft vs 56), but the sizes differ: about 53 cm × 10 m against 20.5 in × 33 ft. Count strips for the roll you are actually buying.
How many rolls of wallpaper for one wall?
A 12 ft wall 8 ft high needs 8 strips of 20.5 in paper, which is 3 double rolls. See how many rolls of wallpaper for one wall.
Related guides
Sources
- Graham & Brown, How do I know how much wallpaper I need? (opens in a new tab) — Measure height × width, subtract doors and windows, and allow extra for pattern repeat and trimming.
- Selected Wallpapers, European rolls vs double rolls (opens in a new tab) — European roll about 53 cm × 10 m (about 57 sq ft); US double rolls typically 20.5–27 in wide and 27–33 ft long.