How many rolls of wallpaper for one wall?
A 12 ft wide wall 8 ft high needs 8 strips of 20.5 in wallpaper. A 33 ft double roll gives 3, so buy 3 rolls (double rolls).
How to work it out
- Roll: 20.5 in × 33 ft = 56.4 sq ft
- Wall 12 ft = 12 ft ÷ 20.5 in roll width = 8 strips
- Strip: 8 ft + 4 in trim = 8.33 ft
- 33 ft roll ÷ 8.33 ft = 3 strips per roll → 8 strips ÷ 3 = 2.67 → 3 rolls
An accent wall is the most common wallpaper job, and the one people most often under-order by working in square feet. A 12 ft wall is 96 sq ft, less than two double rolls by area, but it takes 8 strips and each roll yields only 3.
Adjust for your project
More options: Trim
- Full-height strips
- 8 strips
- Strips per roll
- 3
- Wall area papered
- 96 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 | 8 strips | 2 rolls |
| 8 ft | 3 | 8 strips | 3 rolls |
| 9 ft | 3 | 8 strips | 3 rolls |
| 10 ft | 3 | 8 strips | 3 rolls |
What to know about papering one wall
- 8 strips. 144 in ÷ 20.5 in is 7.02: seven strips leave a sliver of wall uncovered, so the eighth is a narrow strip cut from a full one.
- 3 double rolls. Two rolls give 6 strips; the third roll supplies the last two and a spare.
- 10 ft wall: 6 strips, 2 double rolls exactly.
- Wider 27 in paper: a 12 ft wall is 6 strips (5.3 rounded up); a 27 ft roll gives 3 strips at 8 ft, so 2 rolls.
Start in the middle of the wall if the pattern is bold, so it sits symmetrically, or at the corner nearest the door if not. Mark a plumb line for the first strip; walls and corners are rarely straight. Painting the rest of the room? The other walls are on how much paint for a 12x12 room, less the accent wall.
Comparing paint and paper for an accent wall? See how much paint for an accent wall. For a whole room: how many rolls of wallpaper 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 rolls of wallpaper for a 10 ft wall?
2 rolls (double rolls): 6 strips.
How many rolls of wallpaper for a 14 ft wall?
3 rolls (double rolls): 9 strips.
How many rolls of wallpaper for a chimney breast?
A 5 ft wide chimney breast 8 ft high takes 3 strips: 1 roll (double rolls).
Other common sizes
- 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 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.