When planning to recarpet a room, it's essential to accurately estimate the total cost. This often involves more than just the price of the carpet itself. Factors like room dimensions, the cost of underlayment (padding), installation fees, and accounting for material waste all contribute to the final bill. Our Home Depot Carpet Calculator helps you break down these costs to provide a comprehensive estimate.
How the Calculator Works:
The calculator uses a straightforward approach to estimate your total carpet project cost:
Calculate Room Area: First, the calculator determines the square footage of your room by multiplying its length by its width.
Area (sq ft) = Room Length (ft) * Room Width (ft)
Account for Waste: Carpet is typically sold in rolls, and fitting it into a room often results in some material being cut away. This is known as waste. The calculator adds a percentage for waste to ensure you purchase enough material. Common waste factors range from 5% to 15%.
Adjusted Area (sq ft) = Area (sq ft) * (1 + Waste Factor / 100)
Calculate Material Costs: The cost of the carpet and padding is calculated by multiplying their respective prices per square foot by the adjusted area.
Carpet Material Cost = Adjusted Area (sq ft) * Carpet Price per Sq Ft ($) Padding Material Cost = Adjusted Area (sq ft) * Padding Price per Sq Ft ($)
Calculate Installation Cost: The installation cost is typically based on the actual room area (not the adjusted area with waste) and is multiplied by the price per square foot for installation.
Installation Cost = Area (sq ft) * Installation Price per Sq Ft ($)
Sum All Costs: Finally, all the individual costs are added together to provide the total estimated project cost.
Total Estimated Cost = Carpet Material Cost + Padding Material Cost + Installation Cost
Key Factors to Consider:
Room Dimensions: Accurate measurements are crucial. Irregularly shaped rooms may require more complex calculations and potentially higher waste factors.
Carpet Type and Quality: The price per square foot can vary significantly based on material (e.g., nylon, polyester, wool), pile height, and durability.
Padding: Good quality padding not only adds comfort and insulation but also extends the life of your carpet.
Installation Complexity: While the calculator uses a per-square-foot rate, complex installations (e.g., stairs, multiple closets, transitions to other flooring) might incur additional charges.
Additional Materials: Don't forget potential costs for tack strips, transition strips, carpet tape, and removal of old flooring.
Sales Tax: Remember to factor in applicable sales tax, which is not included in this estimate.
Using this calculator provides a strong starting point for budgeting your carpet project. It's always a good idea to get a formal quote from your installer or retailer for the most precise costs.
function calculateCarpetCost() {
var roomLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomLength").value);
var roomWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roomWidth").value);
var carpetPricePerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("carpetPricePerSqFt").value);
var paddingPricePerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("paddingPricePerSqFt").value);
var installationPricePerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("installationPricePerSqFt").value);
var wasteFactor = parseFloat(document.getElementById("wasteFactor").value);
var resultValueElement = document.getElementById("result-value");
var resultDetailsElement = document.getElementById("result-details");
// Clear previous details
resultDetailsElement.innerHTML = "";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(roomLength) || roomLength <= 0 ||
isNaN(roomWidth) || roomWidth <= 0 ||
isNaN(carpetPricePerSqFt) || carpetPricePerSqFt < 0 ||
isNaN(paddingPricePerSqFt) || paddingPricePerSqFt < 0 ||
isNaN(installationPricePerSqFt) || installationPricePerSqFt < 0 ||
isNaN(wasteFactor) || wasteFactor < 0) {
resultValueElement.textContent = "Invalid Input";
resultValueElement.style.color = "#dc3545"; // Red for error
resultDetailsElement.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
var roomArea = roomLength * roomWidth;
var adjustedArea = roomArea * (1 + wasteFactor / 100);
var carpetMaterialCost = adjustedArea * carpetPricePerSqFt;
var paddingMaterialCost = adjustedArea * paddingPricePerSqFt;
var installationCost = roomArea * installationPricePerSqFt; // Installation is usually on actual area
var totalCost = carpetMaterialCost + paddingMaterialCost + installationCost;
// Format currency
var formattedTotalCost = "$" + totalCost.toFixed(2);
resultValueElement.textContent = formattedTotalCost;
resultValueElement.style.color = "#28a745"; // Green for success
// Display detailed breakdown
var detailsHtml = "
";
detailsHtml += "
Room Area: " + roomArea.toFixed(2) + " sq ft
";
detailsHtml += "
Adjusted Area (with waste): " + adjustedArea.toFixed(2) + " sq ft
";
detailsHtml += "
Carpet Material Cost: $" + carpetMaterialCost.toFixed(2) + "
";
detailsHtml += "
Padding Material Cost: $" + paddingMaterialCost.toFixed(2) + "