How to measure a room

Hurrah! It’s time to buy a brand-new carpet or flooring for your home. But before you start getting giddy about choosing colours or picking patterns, the first thing you need to do is measure your room for flooring.

You might be wondering where to begin, so to help, we’ve put together a simple guide to teach you how to tackle it like a pro. Measuring a room is not as daunting as you might think.

And remember, when you place an order with us, we’ll be happy to pop over and give your room(s) a free measurement check to be 100% sure of a perfect fit!

In this guide:

Things you’ll need to measure a room
Things to remember when measuring a room for flooring
How to measure a room: Step-by-step
How to work out square metres for flooring
How to measure a room for laminate flooring
Other things to consider when measuring a room
A handy video guide on how to measure a room for flooring

Things you’ll need to measure a room

To get started, you’ll need the following:

Tape measure
Pen or pencil
Piece of paper or notepad
Ruler
A helpful assistant - if you can find one!

Things to remember when measuring a room for flooring

Whether you’re learning how to measure your floor for laminate, vinyl, luxury vinyl, or carpet, the basics are the same. Keep these points in mind:

Only record the actual measurements on your plan. Don’t add any allowances or extra centimetres just yet.
Stick to metres when measuring – it’s how flooring is usually priced, so it'll save you time (and head scratching) later on.
Measure all the way into the doorways, as well as the width, and jot down this information on your plan.
Note the number of doorways so you can accurately calculate the connecting door bars and thresholds that you’ll need.
Measure any drop-backs, alcoves, or fireplaces.
Take a few measurements wall to wall across each room as some walls might be wonky!
Take lots of photos so you have a visual reference for your sketched out plan.

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How to measure a room: Step-by-step

Getting accurate room measurements is the first step toward finding flooring that not only looks great but fits the space the way it should. That’s why we’ve put together this super simple step-by-step guide on how to measure a room for flooring, complete with handy Tapi Top Tips to help you along the way.

1. Draw a rough floor plan

Start by sketching out the shape of the room. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a simple aerial view is all you need. Make sure to jot down any doorways, windows, or drop-backs, including fireplaces, alcoves, and fitted cupboards.

Tapi Top Tip: Only include actual measurements – we'll add on any extra allowances later that you’ll need. Use our carpet calculator to help give you a good idea of how much it could cost for your favourite options.

2. Measure the longest and widest points

Grab your tape measure and measure the widest and longest points of the room, wall to wall. Even if your space isn’t an exact square, this gives us the most accurate overall size. Don’t stop at just one spot. Measure across a few different points as the walls might be a little uneven (especially in older houses) and note down these measurements on your plan.

Tapi Top Tip: If you can get someone else to help you hold the tape measure straight, measuring is so much easier. Trust us!

3. Measure all the tricky bits (including nooks, doorways, and drop-backs)

Got a bay window? Chimney breast? Weird little nook? Make a note! Measure all the way into any doorways (where the next room starts) and remember to record doorway widths too. Jot down the dimensions of any drop-backs, as well as any split levels or steps. We’re great at working around quirky features, but the more information you give us, the better we can help.

Tapi Top Tip: Take photos of your room from different angles – it really helps us to give you a more accurate quote.

4. Double-check your numbers

Before you pack away the tape, go back over each measurement to make sure everything’s been noted correctly. Clearly label each measurement on your sketch so it’s easy to read. It’s easy to miss a corner or mix up a number (we’ve all been there!). Double-checking now can save a lot of hassle and cost.

All done! We told you it was a piece of cake! If you need help measuring your stairs, follow our how to measure stairs guide.

Now take your plan and photos into your local Tapi store where our team of floorologists can give you an accurate free quote - or book a free home visit and we’ll come to you!

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How to work out square metres for flooring

Once you’ve measured your space, it’s time to do a little maths. Trust us, it’s simpler than it sounds.

To work out how many square metres of flooring you’ll need, just multiply the length of the room by the width. That’s it! This gives you the total area in square metres (m²), which is how most flooring is priced and sold.

For example, if your room is five metres long and three metres wide, the calculation would look like this:

5m (length) x 3m (width) = 15m²

So, you’ll need 15 square metres of flooring.

What if your room is an odd shape?

Awkward layouts are more common than you might think! For example, your room might be L-shaped, or have bay windows, nooks, or alcoves. And in older houses, the walls are never straight! You need to measure your room at the longest and widest points, so it’s almost like one big square or rectangle. This ensures you have enough flooring to cover the room. For more complex rooms with curved walls or diagonal edges, focus on squaring off the space as best you can. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just as close as possible.

When you book a free measuring and planning appointment with Tapi, we’ll always make sure we calculate your flooring quantity in the most economical way with the least amount of wastage.

Tapi Top Tip: Always round your measurements up, not down.

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How to measure a room for laminate flooring

If you’re planning on installing laminate, knowing how to measure for laminate flooring is key to getting a neat and professional result, even if you're doing it yourself.

Laminate flooring is usually sold in packs that cover a set number of square metres. So, once you've measured the length and widths of your entire room and worked out the total area, you’ll know how many packs you’ll need and get a good idea of the budget. You can use our handy laminate flooring cost guide to estimate pricing based on the type of laminate and size of your space.

Next, it’s time to finalise your dream flooring and get it fitted! Whether you’re laying it yourself or bringing in the pros, your measurements still help us give you a more accurate quote and plan the job properly.

Other things to consider when measuring a room

To help us fine tune your quote, it can be helpful if you let us know a few extra bits of information about the room (or rooms) you’re measuring. If you’re measuring a room for carpet or other flooring such as vinyl, laminate, or luxury vinyl, it’s great if you can email us some photos of the room or bring them along to one of our stores. We’ll be able to see exactly what we’re working with, whether it’s a built-in wardrobe or an oddly-shaped corner.

Before we give you a quote, there are a few key questions worth considering. They’ll help you prepare for your new flooring like an expert, from your early room plans right through to the final installation.

What type of room is it?

Let us know if the room you are measuring for carpet or other flooring is a bedroom, lounge, kitchen, bathroom, home office, secret laboratory, or a mix of all of them! Knowing how you use the room will help us to determine what floor types are suitable for the space.

How many windows and doors are there in the room?

Tell us where the doors and windows are, if they are floor length, internal or external, and if they’re north or south-facing. Some flooring types don’t like heat or light, and dark-coloured carpets are likely to fade over time in a room with lots of sunlight.

Is there any built-in furniture in the room?

It’s useful to know if there are kitchen islands and fitted wardrobes in the room that the flooring needs to fit around.

What’s under the floor you’ll be replacing?

Subfloors matter! Knowing whether it’s concrete or wood, new or old, level or uneven, helps us figure out the best options. The condition of your subfloor can affect the performance of your new floor, and some flooring types (like carpet and vinyl) are better than others at hiding the imperfections underneath.

Are you measuring for multiple rooms?

If so, write the name of the room on the drawing and, if possible, draw the connecting hallway or adjoining room. This helps us understand the layout of your home, plan the correct flooring or pile direction, and recommend the right thresholds between rooms.

Tapi Top Tip: If you’re keeping the floor in an adjoining room, let us know what it is, so we can match everything up seamlessly.

A handy video guide on how to measure a room

Want to see our experts in action? Watch our quick video on how to measure a room for flooring. You’ll feel like a pro in no time.

You’ve made it to the end of our guide, and hopefully, you’re feeling more confident and capable of measuring your room for carpet and other flooring!

If you think you could use some extra assistance, however, why not book a free home visit today. Our flooring experts are always happy to come out and give you a helping hand. Or, if you’re ready to purchase new flooring right away, come on down to your local Tapi store to see our huge flooring collection and browse hundreds of beautiful flooring samples.

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Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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Published: 10-07-2025

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