Measuring Carpets
Read these instructions carefully and measuring carpets for a quote should be no trouble.
widest points | doorways | fireplaces & units | cupboards | L shapes | stairs | professional help | links
Measuring carpets means the widest points
A simple room will only require the length by the width - measure A - B and C - D, you won't need any other measurements. Take a little time to really be sure what the widest dimensions of a room are. It is so easy to miss a small recess behind a door.
Allow an extra 10 centimetres on each measurement - walls can waver over the course of 4 or 5 metres. Measuring carpets too tight means you'll be left short of the skirting board, your fitter will need something to cut in!
TIP: Remember - if you are measuring carpets yourself, you will need to get the company whose quote you accept to check it unless you are willing to accept responsibility.
Doorways - one reason why professionals don't let you measure
Most people miss doorways. The carpet will finish underneath the door, not against the skirting board - that will typically mean about an extra 15 centimetres. You will usually enter a room from either a hallway or landing, the carpet from those areas should meet the rooms underneath the door.
When the door is closed, you shouldn't be able to see any other carpet except for the area you are standing in. You should only see the hall carpet if you are in the hall with the doors closed - and likewise, you should only see the room carpet if you are in a room with the door closed. Make sure your measurement reaches those doors!
Fireplaces and units
Forget fireplaces and units as they won't affect the maximum measurement (usually the width) - remember you will be cutting the fireplace or units OUT - it won't add anything to what you have to buy. Alcoves are really only the widest points of a room, think of chimney breasts as cutting out of what you have to buy. Units are a little bit more tricky in kitchens.
Cupboards - wardrobes
A cupboard may be a bit of a nuisance, but if it is going to need carpet inside then you must include it into your widest points of a room. Typically, people measuring carpets themselves only include a cupboard if it won't mean spending extra money on the overall amount of carpet required (they just leave the existing carpet in there!)
Wardrobes that partition off part of a bedroom usually fit within a carpets width anyway (as if the partition weren't there). Larger projects like complete housefulls usually cater for cupboards from waste or spare areas in cutting plans.
L Shapes - lounge diners; halls; landings
When measuring carpets it is common to find landings and hallways requiring L shape measurements, and lounge areas with adjacent dining areas. Remember you will have two lengths and two widths.
It helps to bear in mind that rooms will have to come out of the same width if they are to colour match and the piles will have to run the same way.
The four measurements are A - B, C - D, E - F and G - H. If your L shape is a landing, it will mean one of these lengths will have to be measured like a step - that means adding about 25 - 30 cm to reach the crutch of the first step.
Stairs - steps; winders; split levels
Measuring carpets for straight stairs is in fact easy, it is only when you have winders (triangular steps) and bullnoses (bottom steps) that life becomes more difficult. Measure over the nose first (height), then the width as in the diagram. Nearly all stair heights are typically between 45 cm and 50 cm. Widths usually fall between 70 cm and about 90 cm (except for winders).
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Winders are a bit more tricky. Carefully observe the yellow lines in the diagram and you will get the idea of measuring the height. Basically you bisect the nosing line at 90 degrees. The width runs parallel with the nosing making sure your line reaches the widest points (illustrated between the two black dotted lines). The minimum winder width will be equal to the maximum stair width, and typical winder lengths will usually fall between 70 cm and 120 cm (as a rough guide).
Professional help - hall/stairs/landings; split levels; diagonal angles; housefulls
It would be unwise to stress yourself out by attempting to measure hall/stairs/landings (especially with winder steps), any area requiring diagonal areas and multiple areas such as a part or whole housefull.
A split level is rather like a large step or winder. Remember, you can get free measuring from carpet shops. Do your best so you can give the carpet shop a good idea of the task - remember the shop you choose will be only too willing to check your measurements (insist on it).
Useful links for measuring carpets yourself
Your Floors - guide to measuring carpets with diagrams (seeing it from another perspective can make it clearer)
Carpet Index - excellent guide to measuring carpets for a basic hall, stairs and landing