How many rolls of wallpaper for a 12×12 room?
A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls, one door and two windows needs 23 strips of 20.5 in wallpaper. A 33 ft double roll gives 3 strips, so buy 8 rolls (double rolls), plus one spare.
How to work it out
- 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
Papering all four walls of a 12 × 12 room is a full-day project and an 8-roll purchase. The number comes from strips, not square feet: 48 ft of wall less three openings is 39 ft, which is 23 strips of 20.5 in paper.
Adjust for your project
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
- 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.
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 |
What to know about papering a 12×12 room
- 23 strips. 39 ft of wall (48 ft less 3 ft each for a door and two windows) ÷ 20.5 in.
- 3 strips per double roll. Each strip is 8 ft 4 in with the trimming allowance; three use 25 ft of the 33 ft roll. The 8 ft offcut covers the short pieces above the door and windows.
- 8 double rolls, 7.67 rounded up. By area alone (312 sq ft of wall ÷ 56 sq ft per roll) you would buy 6, and run out.
- With a 21 in pattern repeat each strip is cut a full repeat longer to line the pattern up: 100 + 21 = 121 in, which still gives 3 strips per 396 in roll on 8 ft walls, so 8 rolls. On 9 ft walls the same paper is 133 in per strip, only 2 per roll: about 12 double rolls.
Buy all eight from the same batch, plus one spare roll if the store takes unopened rolls back. Prime the walls first with a wallpaper primer so the paper slides into position and, years from now, peels off without taking the drywall face with it.
Just one wall instead? See how many rolls of wallpaper for one wall. A smaller room is how many rolls of wallpaper for a 10x10 room. Painting it instead: how much paint for a 12x12 room.
Different size? Use the full Wallpaper Calculator (Rolls Needed).
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)
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Frequently asked questions
How many European rolls of wallpaper for a 12x12 room?
8 rolls of 0.53 × 10.05 m (23 strips, 3 per roll).
How many rolls of wallpaper for a 12x12 room with 9 ft walls?
8 rolls (double rolls): 23 strips at 3 per roll.
How many rolls for a 12x12 room with a 21 inch repeat?
8 rolls (double rolls) on 8 ft walls, 3 strips per roll.
How many rolls for a 12x12 room with 9 ft walls and a 21 inch repeat?
12 rolls (double rolls): each strip is 133 in, so only 2 per roll.
Other common sizes
- 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)
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.