Wallpaper calculator
A standard UK roll is 52 cm wide and 10.05 m long, which gives 4 drops for a 2.4 m high wall with no pattern repeat.
- Drops needed
- 29
- Drops per roll
- 4
- Wall area
- 36.0 m²
4 × 3.5 m room, 2.4 m high, no pattern repeat. Each drop is cut to 2.5 m.
Doors and windows are not taken off, which gives spare paper for matching. Buy all rolls from the same batch.
Rolls for common room sizes
2.4 m walls, standard 52 cm × 10.05 m rolls.
| Room | Size | Plain | 53 cm repeat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom | 3 × 3 m | 6 | 8 |
| Double bedroom | 4 × 3.5 m | 8 | 10 |
| Living room | 5 × 4 m | 9 | 12 |
| Hallway | 4 × 1.2 m | 5 | 7 |
How we calculate this
Wallpaper goes up in vertical strips called drops. We divide the distance around the room by the roll width to get the number of drops, then work out how many drops you can cut from one roll.
Each drop is the wall height plus 10 cm for trimming. With a pattern, each drop is rounded up to a whole number of repeats, so the pattern lines up. That is why patterned paper needs more rolls.
Questions people ask
What size is a standard roll of wallpaper?
In the UK, 52 cm wide and 10.05 m long. Some designer and wide-width papers differ, so check the label and change the roll size if needed.
What is a pattern repeat?
The height before the pattern starts again. It is printed on the label. A bigger repeat means more waste on each drop, so you need more rolls.
Should I take off doors and windows?
We don’t, because the paper above and below windows and doors still needs matching, and spare paper helps. If your room has very large windows or patio doors, you might save a roll.
Why should rolls have the same batch number?
Rolls from different print runs can differ slightly in colour. The batch number is on the label, so buy all your rolls, plus a spare, at the same time.
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