We love wallpaper and we love that there are so many home owners interested in using it to bring life to their living spaces. We built this guide to help measure out exactly how much to purchase for your space.
How To calculate Total Square Footage (TSF)
Step 1: Measure the height of the walls in your room. – Wall Height
Step 2: Measure width of each wall and add them together – Combined Width of Walls
Step 3: Calculate: Combined Width of Walls X Height of Wall = TSF
By multiplying the Combined Width by the Wall Height you get the total square footage (TSF) of wall space you need to cover with wallpaper.
Step 4: Factor in the pattern repeat. If the pattern repeat is 18″ or less then divide the TSF by 23, if the pattern repeat is 19″ to 25″ then divide the TSF by 20.
What is The Pattern Repeat Effect
A pattern repeat is how frequently a shape or image appears in a strip of wallpaper. To create a seamless effect each strip of wallpaper needs to be lined up with the pattern repeat of the previous strip. The bigger the repeat the more waste and the need for more wallpaper. The smaller the repeat the less waste and the less wallpaper you need. So a pattern repeat of 18″ means that you will see the image every 18″ in a strip of wallpaper. A Random Match means there is no pattern repeat which means there will be very little waste and is easier to hang than wallpaper with a repeat.
Wallpaper Estimation Table
Use the following table to help gauge how many rolls you need to purchase. (This table is based on 28 sq ft per single rolls at 18″ or less pattern repeat or random match.)
| Total Square Footage to Cover | # of Single rolls Required | # of Double rolls Required |
| up to 50 sq ft | 2 single rolls | 1 double rolls |
| 50 to 100 sq ft | 4 single rolls | 2 double rolls |
| 101 to 150 sq ft | 6 single rolls | 3 double rolls |
| 151 to 200 sq ft | 8 single rolls | 4 double rolls |
| 201 to 250 sq ft | 10 single rolls | 5 double rolls |
| 251 to 300 sq ft | 12 single rolls | 6 double rolls |
| 301 to 350 sq ft | 14 single rolls | 7 double rolls |
| 351 to 400 sq ft | 16 single rolls | 8 double rolls |
| 401 to 450 sq ft | 18 single rolls | 9 double rolls |
| 451 to 500 sq ft | 20 single rolls | 10 double rolls |
| 501 to 550 sq ft | 22 single rolls | 11 double rolls |
| 551 to 600 sq ft | 24 single rolls | 12 double rolls |
Whimsical’s Tip
You always want to order more than you need instead of not enough. The last thing you want is to run out of wallpaper and have to reorder since it is difficult at times to get the same run and dye lot numbers. To keep things simple and to ensure you have enough paper do not make any deductions for windows, doors, and cabinets.
Have questions or need help? Talk to our wallpaper experts at info@whimsicalwalls.ca or via our phone number at the top of the page.