What Is the Carpet/Flooring Calculator?
Estimate carpet, vinyl, tile, or hardwood flooring material needed to cover stair treads, risers, and landings. This calculator accounts for waste factor and converts between square feet, square yards, and linear feet for accurate material ordering.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter tread depth, riser height, stair width, and number of steps.
- Set the waste factor percentage (10% is standard for carpet).
- Review total coverage area, square yards for carpet orders, and tread vs. riser breakdown.
Why Accurate Carpet/Flooring Calculations Matter
Carpet is sold by the square yard, while vinyl and tile are sold by the square foot. Stair carpet installation also requires extra material for wrapping around nosings and tucking into crotches. A 10–15% waste factor accounts for cutting losses and pattern matching.
Building Code References
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much carpet do I need for stairs?+
Measure each tread depth plus riser height, multiply by the stair width, and repeat for all steps. Add 10–15% for waste. A typical 14-step staircase needs about 5–7 square yards of carpet.