Accurate measurements are the first step toward a smooth wallpaper installation and an accurate estimate. Whether you’re wallpapering a powder bathroom, accent wall, entire room, ceiling, staircase or the space above wainscoting, a few simple measurements will give your wallpaper installer the information needed to understand the project.
At That Wallpaper Girl, we prefer measurements in feet and inches. You do not need to calculate everything perfectly—we can help with the final wallpaper quantity once we know the wall dimensions, wallpaper roll size, pattern repeat and match type.
Before You Start Measuring
You’ll need:
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A metal tape measure
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A pencil or phone for recording measurements
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A step stool if appropriate and safe
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Photos of every area receiving wallpaper
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The wallpaper name, SKU or product link, if already selected
Measure each wall at its widest point and use the tallest wall height. Because walls and ceilings are not always perfectly square, round measurements up rather than down.
Do Not Subtract Windows or Doors
Measure every wall as though it were one complete rectangle. Do not subtract windows, doors, built-ins or other openings from your measurements.
Wallpaper is installed in vertical panels, and the pattern must continue across the wall before being trimmed around openings. The pieces removed around doors and windows cannot always be reused elsewhere, particularly when the wallpaper has a large pattern repeat.
How to Measure an Accent Wall
An accent wall is the simplest space to measure.
Record:
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Wall length: Measure horizontally from corner to corner.
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Wall height: Measure from the top of the baseboard to the ceiling.
Accent-wall formula
Wall length × wall height = approximate square footage
For example:
12-foot wall × 9-foot height = 108 square feet
Do not subtract a window or door. Measure the entire wall from corner to corner and from the baseboard to the ceiling.
If the wall has a vaulted or sloped ceiling, record both its lowest and highest heights and send a straight-on photograph.
How to Measure a Powder Bathroom
For a powder bathroom, record the room’s:
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Length
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Width
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Wall height
You can also measure the width of each individual wall and add those widths together.
Powder-room formula
Room perimeter × wall height = approximate wall square footage
To calculate the perimeter:
Length + length + width + width
Or:
2 × (length + width)
Then multiply the perimeter by the wall height.
For example, an 8-foot-long by 5-foot-wide powder room with 9-foot ceilings would be:
8 + 8 + 5 + 5 = 26 feet of total wall width
26 feet × 9 feet = 234 approximate square feet
Do not deduct the door, window, mirror or vanity from this measurement. Wallpaper still needs to be cut and pattern-matched around those areas.
Please also send photographs showing the vanity, toilet, mirror, windows, doors and any narrow wall sections. Powder bathrooms often contain several corners and detailed cuts that are important when preparing an installation estimate.
How to Measure an Entire Room
For a full-room wallpaper installation, measure:
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The room’s length
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The room’s width
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The wall height
You can use the room-perimeter method:
2 × (room length + room width) × wall height
For an irregular room, measure every wall separately:
Wall 1 width × height
Wall 2 width × height
Wall 3 width × height
Continue until every wallpapered wall is included, then add the totals together.
Use the tallest height in the room and do not subtract windows or doors. If one wall has a different height, vaulted ceiling or unusual shape, record that wall separately.
How to Measure a Ceiling for Wallpaper
For a wallpapered ceiling, measure:
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Ceiling length
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Ceiling width
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Floor-to-ceiling height
Ceiling formula
Ceiling length × ceiling width = approximate ceiling square footage
For example:
14-foot ceiling × 12-foot ceiling = 168 square feet
We also need the room’s ceiling height, even though it is not part of the square-footage calculation. This helps the installer determine the appropriate ladder or scaffolding requirements and evaluate access to the work area.
Please tell us if the ceiling is:
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Flat
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Vaulted
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Sloped
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Tray-style
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Coffered
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Located above a staircase
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Higher than the surrounding ceilings
Include wide photographs showing the entire ceiling and the floor area below it.
How to Measure Above Wainscoting
When wallpaper will be installed above wainscoting, chair rail, panel molding or another wall treatment, measure:
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Room length
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Room width
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Height from the top of the wainscoting to the ceiling
Do not use the room’s complete floor-to-ceiling height. Only measure the vertical space that will receive wallpaper.
Above-wainscoting formula
Room perimeter × height above the wainscoting = approximate wallpaper area
For example, if the room perimeter is 40 feet and the distance from the top of the wainscoting to the ceiling is 5 feet:
40 feet × 5 feet = 200 square feet
If the wainscoting changes height around the room, measure each wall separately and include photographs.
How to Measure a Staircase or Stairwell for Wallpaper
Staircases require more information because the floor rises while the ceiling, wall or both may change height.
For a staircase wallpaper installation, record:
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The horizontal length of the staircase wall
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The wall height at the bottom of the staircase
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The wall height at the top of the staircase
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The highest floor-to-ceiling measurement
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The length and height of any landing walls
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The staircase width
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The number of steps
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Whether the ceiling is flat, angled, vaulted or open to another floor
For a wall following the staircase, measure from the beginning of the wallpapered wall at the bottom to the end of the wall at the top. Then record the lowest and highest wall heights.
Measure landing walls as separate rectangles:
Landing-wall length × landing-wall height
Do not rely on one square-footage calculation for the entire stairwell. Send measurements for each wall section along with photos taken from:
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The bottom looking up
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The top looking down
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Each landing
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Straight on toward the wallpapered wall
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A wide angle showing the floor and ceiling access
Staircase photos help the installer determine ladder placement, scaffolding needs and safe access. For tall or unusually shaped stairwells, an in-person measurement may still be necessary before finalizing the installation quote.
How to Measure a Wall With a Sloped or Vaulted Ceiling
Measure:
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The full wall width
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The lowest wall height
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The highest wall height
For wallpaper ordering purposes, the wall may need to be treated as a full rectangle using its widest width and tallest height. This provides the full-length panels required to follow the slope.
Include a straight-on photograph so the installer can see the angle and shape.
What Else Does Your Wallpaper Installer Need?
Measurements tell us the size of the project, but they do not tell the entire story. Please also provide:
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The room type
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Project address or ZIP code
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Desired installation timeline
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Clear photographs of every wall
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Ceiling height
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Wallpaper brand, name and SKU
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Roll width and roll length
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Pattern-repeat measurement
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Pattern-match type
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Number of rolls already purchased
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Whether the wallpaper is peel-and-stick, pre-pasted, unpasted, grasscloth or a mural
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Whether existing wallpaper must be removed
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Whether the walls are smooth or textured
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Any visible wall damage or recent repairs
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Information about tall ceilings, staircases or limited access
Why Pattern Repeat Matters
Square footage provides a useful starting point, but wallpaper is not ordered like paint. The number of rolls required also depends on the wallpaper’s width, roll length, pattern repeat and match type.
A large floral, animal print or offset-match wallpaper may require additional material so the design lines up correctly from one panel to the next. A random-match texture may produce less pattern waste.
Graham & Brown recommends allowing approximately 10% extra and notes that the final quantity depends on the design’s repeat and match type. Always order enough wallpaper for the entire project at one time and verify that all rolls share the same lot or batch number.
Quick Wallpaper Measurement Checklist
Before requesting your wallpaper installation estimate, make sure you have:
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Measurements written in feet and inches
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The full width and tallest height of every wall
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No deductions for windows or doors
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Ceiling height for installer access
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Lowest and highest heights for sloped walls
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Separate measurements for landings and irregular wall sections
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Wide and close-up photographs
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Wallpaper specifications or a product link
Need Help Measuring for Wallpaper?
You don’t have to figure everything out alone. Send That Wallpaper Girl your room dimensions, photos and wallpaper information, and we’ll help you determine what your project requires.
Through the That Wallpaper Girl Installer Network, we can also connect you with qualified wallpaper installers who serve your area. Whether you’re planning a powder bathroom, statement wall, full room, ceiling or staircase, the right measurements will help us find the best installer for your project.