How to Measure Your Wall Before Ordering Wallpaper (3 Simple Steps)

Category: Helpful Guides | Reading Time: 5 minutes*

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You've found the perfect wallpaper — now comes the part that trips up most people: figuring out exactly how much to order. Too little and you're left with a half-finished wall. Too much and you've spent money on rolls that will never leave the box.
The good news? Measuring your wall correctly is simple if you follow these three steps.

Step 1: Measure Width and Height
Grab a tape measure, a pencil, and a notepad.
Measure the full width of your wall from left to right — record this in inches or centimeters.
Then measure the height from floor to ceiling. Standard ceiling heights are around 96 inches
(244 cm), but every home is different, so always measure rather than assume.
**Example:** If your wall is 138 inches wide and 96 inches tall, your total wall area is 138 × 96
= 13,248 square inches (or roughly 92 square feet).
> **Pro Tip:** Take every measurement at least twice. Walls are rarely perfectly square, so
double-checking saves you from ordering the wrong amount.


Step 2: Account for Windows and Doors — But Don't Subtract Them

This surprises a lot of people. Even if your wall has a window or door, don't subtract those
areas from your total order.
Why? Because wallpaper is installed in continuous vertical strips. When you cut around a
window or door, those offcuts often can't be reused elsewhere — they're wasted. You still
need full strips, even when part of each strip gets trimmed away.
For a wall with large floor-to-ceiling windows, ordering 15–20% extra is still recommended to
cover trimming losses.

Step 3: Factor in Pattern Repeat
Every WAW Decors product page lists the pattern repeat — this is the vertical distance before
the design repeats itself.
A wallpaper with a 12-inch pattern repeat means that each strip needs to be aligned precisely
with the next, which results in some material being wasted at the top or bottom of each strip.
The larger the repeat, the more extra material you'll need.
**Safe rule of thumb:**
- Pattern repeat 0–6 inches: order 10% extra
- Pattern repeat 6–12 inches: order 15% extra
- Pattern repeat 12+ inches: order 20% extra


The Simple Formula 
Number of strips needed = Wall width ÷ Roll width (round up)
Length per strip = Wall height + Pattern repeat + 4 inches for trimming
Total material needed = Number of strips × Length per strip

Still not sure? Our customer support team is happy to calculate the exact quantity for you —
just share your wall dimensions and the product you've chosen, and we'll handle the math.
**When in doubt, always order one extra roll.** Having a leftover roll for future repairs is far better than running short mid-project.