Wallpaper rolls and pattern matching calculator
How many wallpaper rolls do I need?
Count whole drops per wall and whole drops per roll, then divide the required drops by drops per roll and round up. Pattern repeat and trimming allowance change how many drops a roll provides.
Calculate one wall at a time. Divide width by roll width and round up to whole drops. Add waste to the drop count. Drop length is height plus total trimming allowance, rounded up to a whole pattern repeat. Only complete drops from each roll count.
Worked example
- One wall width: 4 m
- Wall height: 2.4 m
- Roll width: 0.5 m
- Roll length: 10 m
- Total trimming allowance per drop: 0.1 m
- Pattern repeat: 0.6 m
- Waste allowance: 0 %
- Price per wallpaper roll: 200 SEK
- Labour cost: 500 SEK
- Delivery: 100 SEK
Cut length per drop: 3 m; Drops including waste: 8; Whole drops per roll: 3; Whole wallpaper rolls: 3; Material cost: 600 SEK; Total cost: 1200 SEK.
Enter your own prices in SEK; example prices are not market prices. Labour and delivery are added separately. No tax relief is deducted.
How does pattern matching affect wallpaper rolls?
In the example, a height of 2.4 metres plus 0.1 metres of trimming gives a 2.5-metre drop without matching. A 10-metre roll provides four drops, so eight drops need two rolls. With a straight repeat of 0.6 metres, cut length becomes 3 metres, giving three drops per roll and three rolls in total. Extra waste is zero in both cases.
Assumptions and limitations
The model covers straight pattern matching or no matching. Half-drop patterns, murals and special starting points are excluded. Openings are not deducted because full drops may be needed. Calculate separate walls individually and check cutting. A roll too short gives no result.
Product information
What would you like to calculate next?
Compare the painting alternative with the paint calculator. Then combine selected finishes in room renovation without counting the same wall work twice.