Wallpaper Calculator

A standard UK wallpaper roll is 10.05 m long and 0.53 m wide, covering approximately 5 m². The number of drops (vertical strips) per roll depends on room height and pattern repeat. A plain or small-repeat paper in a 2.4 m room gives 4 drops per roll. A large pattern repeat (e.g. 64 cm) reduces this to 2–3 drops per roll due to pattern matching waste.

This calculator measures the room perimeter, divides by roll width to get the total number of drops needed, then divides by drops per roll to get the number of rolls. It subtracts doors and windows (each equivalent to roughly half a drop) and adds 1–2 spare rolls for mistakes and future repairs.

Enter room dimensions, ceiling height and pattern repeat length. The calculator shows drops needed, rolls required and estimated cost. For wide-width wallpapers (0.70 m or 1.06 m), the calculator adjusts the strip count accordingly.

How many rolls of wallpaper do you need? Standard UK wallpaper roll: 10.05m long × 0.52-0.53m wide = ~5.2 m² per roll. Net coverage after pattern matching: 4-4.5 m² for plain/random patterns; 3.5-4 m² for small repeats; 2.5-3.5 m² for large repeats (over 30cm). Sample bedroom: walls 30 m² ÷ 4 m² (typical net) = 8 rolls. Always buy 1-2 extra rolls for repairs and pattern-matching errors — batch numbers must match between rolls (slight colour variation between batches).

Pattern repeat and 'drop' calculations. 'Free match' wallpaper (no repeat): cut consecutive lengths, maximum yield. 'Straight match': design repeats horizontally at same height — moderate waste. 'Offset/drop match' (half-drop): each strip lifted half-pattern from previous — most waste, can lose 30-50% material on large repeats. Pattern repeat (cm) shown on roll label — divide wall height by pattern repeat to find waste per drop. 64cm repeat with 2.4m ceiling: 4 repeats needed = 2.56m of paper per 2.4m drop = 6.7% waste before pattern matching.

Wallpaper types and where to use them. Standard paper: cheapest but tears easily, hard to hang. Vinyl: durable, wipeable, good for kitchens/bathrooms — most common UK retail. Non-woven: easiest to hang ('paste-the-wall'), peels off cleanly. Textured (anaglypta, woodchip): hides poor walls; out of fashion since 2000s. Mural/photo: single image stretches across wall, custom-printed to size. Sample UK prices: budget rolls £8-£15; mid £20-£40; designer Cole & Son, Sanderson, Farrow & Ball £75-£200/roll.

Preparation — the make-or-break step. Strip old paper (steam stripper hire £15/day). Wash walls with sugar soap. Fill cracks, sand smooth. Size walls with diluted paste (improves slip during hanging). Prime stained walls with shellac — water stains will bleed through fresh paper. Lining paper (£3-£5/roll) under wallpaper hides imperfections in old plaster. Plumb line essential — walls/ceilings never perfectly square. Cut first drop with 50mm overlap top and bottom — trim after hanging.

Cost of wallpapering a UK room. Materials only (DIY): 3.6m × 4m bedroom (~30 m² walls) — 8 rolls × £25 = £200 + paste £5 + lining paper £25 = £230. Tools (one-off): scissors £10, brush £10, smoother £8, plumb bob £8 = £40. Professional decorator: £200-£400/day labour + materials, typical bedroom 1.5 days = £400-£800 total inc materials. Mural single-wall feature: £100-£300 paper + £150-£300 labour. Designer wallpaper room: £600-£2,000+ depending on roll cost and complexity.