Count strips, not just area
Each wall needs enough complete vertical strips to cover its width. We round strips up per wall and retain doors and windows. A small area above a door does not always save a full strip.
02 / Patterns & paper
Wallpaper roll calculator
Calculate wallpaper rolls from wall sizes, roll dimensions, trim and free or straight pattern matching.
Know what goes into your estimate
A better way to count rolls
Full strips, visible assumptions.
Make the pattern line up
For straight-match paper, the wall height plus total trim is rounded up to the next whole pattern repeat. For free-match paper, only height and trim are used.
Group the cutting lengths
Walls with equal strip lengths share rolls. Different lengths are allocated separate rolls, without assuming leftovers can transfer. Add spare rolls for motif placement, damage or future repairs.
How pattern repeats change wallpaper rolls
Each example is one 2.4 m high wall using 530 mm × 10.05 m physical rolls and 100 mm total trim, without spare rolls. A free-match cut is 2.5 m; the straight-repeat cut is 2.56 m. This changes how many full strips fit on a roll.
| Wall width | Free match | 640 mm straight repeat |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 1 rolls | 2 rolls |
| 4.24 m | 2 rolls | 3 rolls |
| 6 m | 3 rolls | 4 rolls |
These are examples, not product specifications. Enter your own measurements and product details in the calculator above.
Common questions
What is the difference between free and straight match?
Free or random match does not require adjacent strips to align at a repeated motif. Straight match aligns the pattern at the same height on neighbouring strips. This tool does not estimate half-drop, offset, mural or A/B-roll products.
Why can a pattern repeat require another roll?
A 2.4 m wall plus 0.10 m total trim needs a 2.5 m cut for free-match paper. With a 0.64 m straight repeat, each cut becomes 2.56 m. A 10.05 m roll yields four 2.5 m strips but only three 2.56 m strips.
Should I subtract windows and doors?
Not in this full-height-strip model. Keeping openings usually provides a practical allowance for matching and cutting. It can overestimate paper for large openings; discuss complicated walls with your installer before ordering.
What does “physical roll” mean?
Enter the actual width and length of the roll you will receive. In some markets, paper is priced by a nominal single roll but supplied in double-roll lengths. This calculator counts the physical roll dimensions you enter.
How much trim should I add?
The example allows 10 cm in total across the top and bottom. Brewster’s measuring guide discusses trimming and matching. Graham & Brown’s measuring guidance explains pattern matching. Initial motif placement can require additional paper. Follow your product label.