Free tool · BuildMeA Projects
Wallpaper Calculator
Buy too few rolls and you're chasing a matching batch mid-job; buy too many and they gather dust in the loft. This calculator uses the drop method — the way decorators actually work it out — so patterned paper and repeats are handled properly, not fudged from a floor area.
Heads up:
Every figure here is an estimate. Buy all your rolls from the same batch number so the colour matches, and add a spare roll for large repeats and future repairs — a big pattern repeat wastes noticeably more paper.
How many rolls of wallpaper do I need?
Work in "drops" — a drop is one top-to-bottom length of paper on the wall. First find your drop length: wall height, plus one pattern repeat (to line the design up), plus about 10cm for trimming top and bottom. Divide the roll length by the drop length and round down to see how many full drops you get per roll. Then divide your total wall width by the roll width and round up to get the number of drops you need. Finally, divide drops needed by drops per roll and round up. This calculator does all of that for you as you type, and always rounds up so you're not left short mid-wall.
How does pattern repeat affect how much wallpaper I need?
A lot. With plain paper (zero repeat) every drop is just the wall height plus trim, so you get the most drops out of each roll. With a patterned paper you have to slide each new length up or down to match the design at the seam, and the paper you slide past is wasted. The bigger the repeat, the longer each drop effectively becomes and the fewer you cut from a roll — a large repeat can easily cost you an extra roll or two on the same wall. Enter the repeat from the roll label so the estimate reflects that waste rather than under-buying.
How big is a standard roll of wallpaper?
A standard UK wallpaper roll is roughly 10.05m long and 0.53m (53cm) wide — that's the default in this tool. Some feature papers, wide-width and American rolls differ, so always check your roll label and update the roll length and width fields if yours aren't standard. On a typical 2.4m ceiling with plain paper you'll usually get four drops from a standard roll; a big pattern repeat can drop that to three.
Does this tool store my details?
No. There's no sign-up and nothing to submit — every calculation runs entirely in your browser as you type. Nothing you enter is uploaded, saved or sent anywhere, so you can use it as many times as you like without leaving a trace.
Please note: this tool gives a guide or estimate only. It may not be 100% accurate and is not professional advice — always check the figures before you rely on them. Nothing you enter is uploaded — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Built by BuildMeA
Need something built around your business?
This tool is free to use. We build websites, lead systems and bespoke tools for UK trades & local businesses — if you want the phone ringing more often, that's the bit we're good at.