Your flooring measuring guide

Carpet is priced by area but supplied from the widths available for that product. Choose a roll width that accommodates the room and its fitting allowance. You pay for the full width of the cut, including material trimmed away.

1. Record the longest and widest room measurements, including recesses and doorways.
2. Have your fitter specify trimming, acclimatisation and pattern allowances. Do not round a room down to make it fit a roll width.
3. Check the actual widths on the selected product. Compare viable orientations with your fitter, keeping pile or pattern direction consistent.
4. Enter the required cut length and available roll width in the carpet calculator. Review the supplied cut and total before adding it to your basket.

Patterns, joins and more than one room

Tell your fitter the exact range, colour, roll widths and pattern repeat in both directions. Agree seam positions and pile direction before buying. Stripes, checks and large repeats can need extra length to match. Do not assume offcuts can be rotated or joined invisibly, or that different roll widths will be from the same dye batch.

Measure every room separately, then ask for one cut plan for the project. A fitter may be able to reuse suitable offcuts, but a simple sum of room areas will not establish the order quantity. For remnants, the available piece must fit the complete agreed cut dimensions.

Measure stairs carefully from a secure position. Keep the staircase clear and get help if you cannot reach safely. Record every step rather than assuming the first one represents the whole flight.

1. Measure width. For full-width carpet, note the widest part of each step. For a runner, mark the finished width you want and check the exposed margins on both sides.
2. Measure the profile. With a flexible tape, follow the intended carpet route over the tread, around the nosing and down the riser. Keep the tape against the surface rather than spanning across the nose.
3. Count and label every step. Include the actual top and bottom termination. A bottom bullnose, different tread or change of width needs its own measurement.
4. Measure the landing separately. Include door recesses and the material needed at the landing nose, as agreed with your fitter. Do not count the same top-step covering twice.
5. Confirm allowances and direction. The fitter must add what is needed for the chosen fitting style, underlay, fixing, pattern matching and end finish.

Straight stair runners

Our rug builder supports straight stair runners. Enter the finished runner width and the length confirmed by your fitter. Long sides are edged as standard; the short ends are left unedged unless you select end edging. Check the preview and selected finish before ordering.

1. Add the measured areas that will use the same product. Keep different products, formats and colours separate.
2. Choose a cutting-waste allowance with your fitter. Plank direction, narrow halls, recesses, diagonal layouts and patterns all affect it.
3. Multiply the area by 1 plus the allowance. For 10%, multiply by 1.10.
4. Divide by the coverage of the exact box or variant, then round up to a whole box. Any basket minimum is separate from the amount your floor needs.

How much extra should you allow?

Woodpecker gives 5-10% for standard planks and 15-20% for patterned floors. PlusFloor Loose Lay specifies a minimum 5% for cuts; awkward or patterned layouts may need more. These are planning references, not guaranteed quantities for every room.

Wood and LVT need different fitting checks

For wood, confirm the required expansion gaps and whether it will be floated, glued or nailed. For LVT, identify glue-down, click or loose-lay before choosing accessories. Loose-lay does not automatically mean adhesive-free. Follow the exact range instructions for perimeter gaps, room transitions and maximum continuous spans. Measure the whole room for estimating; the installer sets out the required gaps.

Mark the proposed outer edges with low-tack tape that is safe for your floor. Walk around the outline, open doors fully and move chairs as you normally would. Enter the finished overall rug size, including its edging, rather than adding a carpet fitting allowance.

• Living rooms: try the outline with the front legs of your main seating on the rug. Check circulation around tables and doorways.
• Dining spaces: pull the chairs back as if someone were getting up. Measure an outline that keeps the chair legs on the rug in that position.
• Bedrooms: decide how much rug you want beyond the sides and foot of the bed, then check bedside furniture and doors.
• Hall runners: keep clear of door swings, thresholds and stairs. Measure several points in a narrow hall and choose the finished width that fits throughout.
• Round rugs: measure the diameter across the centre. For ovals, record both overall axes. Check the shape options offered for your chosen construction.

The standard carpet rug builder uses available roll widths and a maximum length of 25 m. The chosen carpet can impose a smaller limit. Bespoke hand-tufted designs follow their own sizing and production rules. Check the size, preview, finish, availability notice and estimated turnaround shown before adding to your basket.

For wood and LVT, divide the actual floor area into simple shapes that do not overlap. Add their areas together. For carpet, draw the same plan but also record the overall widest and longest dimensions: a total area alone cannot specify a roll cut.

Details that are easy to miss

• Bays, alcoves and chimney breasts: record each width and depth. For carpet, do not subtract a fireplace or missing corner from the full cut without an agreed seam plan.
• Hallways and landings: include every doorway recess, turn and the landing edge at the top step. Mark the stair opening separately so it is not counted as floor area.
• Kitchens, utilities and fitted wardrobes: agree which areas will be covered. Floating floors must be able to move; have your fitter confirm the treatment around fixed cabinets and islands before deducting their footprint.
• Bathrooms and conservatories: measure the floor area, then confirm that the exact product is suitable for moisture, sunlight and temperature changes. A water-resistant plank does not by itself make a wet-room system.
• Curves and uneven walls: record several widths and lengths. Use a professional template or cut plan where a simple rectangle cannot describe the shape accurately.

A tape measure, a pencil and a simple sketch are all you need to start. Measure in metres or centimetres, label every dimension and keep the original readings. Use a flexible tape for stair profiles; a laser is useful for clear, straight room measurements.

• Sketch first. Mark doors, recesses, bay windows, fireplaces, fixed units, stairs and changes of floor covering. Give each room a name.
• Measure twice at floor level. Check both ends and the middle of a room. Walls may not be parallel, so keep the largest relevant readings.
• Include the floor you will cover. Measure into alcoves and to the intended doorway join, usually beneath the closed door. Mark that join on your sketch.
• Keep two figures. Record the measured size separately from the order size with allowances. That prevents adding extra twice.

Metres, centimetres, feet and inches

100 cm = 1 m. One foot = 0.3048 m; one inch = 0.0254 m. Convert each side first, then multiply to find square metres. A running metre is a length, while m² is an area.

Allow time before fitting

Check the manufacturer’s acclimatisation, storage and room-condition instructions for the exact product. There is no single waiting time for all carpet, wood and LVT. Do not automatically open every box: packaging requirements vary. The subfloor must be checked for moisture, soundness and flatness before work starts.

Tell your fitter about underfloor heating, existing floors, new screeds and areas of strong sunlight. Confirm product compatibility and the commissioning and temperature procedure. Inspect the delivered product, quantities and visible condition before cutting or installation.

• Every room, recess, doorway and change of shape appears on the plan.
• Metres and centimetres are clearly labelled; original measurements have been checked twice.
• The fitter has confirmed product suitability, pattern direction, seams and allowances.
• Carpet order dimensions fit an available roll width; box flooring uses the correct pack coverage.
• Cutting waste has been included once, and box quantities have been rounded up.
• Stair measurements include each profile and the intended top and bottom finish.
• Accessories match the floor, subfloor, floor heights and installation method.
• The supplied size, selected options, quantity and basket total have been reviewed.

Need help choosing the right product?

Send your labelled sketch and selected product name to support@interiorsbysutton.com or call 0121 369 0727. We can help explain product widths, pack coverage and ordering options. Your independent fitter should verify the final site measurements and installation plan.

Keep a copy of your plan

Download the guide for room and stair worksheets. Save the product name, colour, fitting allowance and final order dimensions alongside your original measurements so you and your fitter are working from the same figures.