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Project guide

How many rolls of wallpaper do I need?

To work out how many rolls of wallpaper you need, count the drops across the walls, work out how long each drop is once the pattern repeat is allowed for, and see how many drops each 10.05m roll gives.

Updated Based on manufacturer guidance, sources below

The short answer

A standard UK roll is 53cm wide and 10.05m long. Drops = total wall width / 0.53, rounded up. Drop length = wall height + 10cm, rounded up to a whole number of pattern repeats. Drops per roll = 10.05 / drop length, rounded down. Rolls = drops / drops per roll, rounded up, plus one spare. A 3.5 x 3m room with 2.4m walls in plain paper needs 7 rolls, plus 1 spare.

The formula

  • Drops = total width of walls to paper / roll width (0.53m), rounded up
  • Drop length = wall height + 0.1m, rounded up to a whole number of pattern repeats
  • Drops per roll = 10.05m / drop length, rounded down
  • Rolls = drops / drops per roll, rounded up, plus 1 spare from the same batch

Worked example

A 3.5 x 3m bedroom (13m of wall) with 2.4m walls:

  • Drops: 13 / 0.53 = 24.5, so 25 drops
  • Plain paper: each drop 2.5m, so 4 drops per roll: 25 / 4 = 7 rolls, plus 1 spare
  • With a 64cm repeat, one 4m feature wall: 8 drops of 2.56m, 3 per roll, so 3 rolls, plus 1 spare

Work it out for your job

Change the measurements and the quantities update straight away.

Add up the walls. Doors and windows are not taken off, which leaves a margin for cutting round them.
Drops needed
25
Length of each drop
2.50 m
Drops per roll
4
Rolls
7, plus 1 spare = 8

Your list

  • 8Rolls of wallpaper, 0.53 x 10.05m (including 1 spare from the same batch)
Open SmartBuild

SmartBuild does not price wallpaper yet, so this opens the app, where you can price paint, filler and the rest of the room.

Materials checklist

  • WallpaperBuy every roll from the same batch number; colours can vary slightly between batches.
  • Wallpaper pasteReady-mixed or powder. The packet says how many rolls it hangs, which depends on the paper weight.
  • Lining paper (optional)Evens out poor walls and gives a better finish under thin papers.
  • Size or primerSeals new or porous plaster so the paste does not soak in.

You'll also need

  • Pasting table and brush (not needed for paste-the-wall papers)
  • Plumb line or laser level
  • Smoothing brush or plastic smoother
  • Sharp knife, scissors and a straight edge
  • Sponge and clean water

Step by step

  1. Measure the wallsMeasure the width of each wall to be papered and add them up. Measure the height at the tallest point.
  2. Find the repeatThe pattern repeat and match type are on the roll label.
  3. Work out the drop lengthAdd 10cm to the height for trimming, then round up to a whole number of repeats.
  4. Count the rollsDivide 10.05m by the drop length (round down) for drops per roll, then divide the drops needed by that.
  5. Add a spareBuy one extra roll from the same batch for mistakes and future repairs.

Tips from the manufacturers

  • Farrow & Ball recommends adding one more roll to whatever you estimate, because batches can differ slightly.
  • Large repeats waste more: on a 2.4m wall a plain paper gives 4 drops per roll, a 64cm repeat only 3.
  • An offset (half-drop) match can waste up to half a repeat more per drop.
  • Keep unopened rolls and receipts: many shops take back unopened rolls within a set period.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Working in square metres. You buy and hang whole drops, so count drops, not m².
  • Forgetting the pattern repeat on patterned papers.
  • Buying rolls from different batches.
  • Not hanging the first drop to a plumb line.

Frequently asked questions

How many rolls of wallpaper for a feature wall?

For a 4m wide wall 2.4m high: 8 drops. Plain paper gives 4 drops per roll, so 2 rolls; with a 64cm repeat you get 3 per roll, so 3 rolls. Add one spare either way.

How many rolls of wallpaper for a 3 x 3m room?

With 2.4m walls, 12m of wall is 23 drops. Plain paper at 4 drops per roll is 6 rolls, plus 1 spare.

What size is a standard roll of wallpaper?

In the UK, usually 53cm wide and 10.05m long, about 5.3 m² of paper.

How many drops do you get from a roll of wallpaper?

For a 2.4m wall, usually 4 drops from a plain paper and 3 from a paper with a repeat up to about 64cm. Large repeats can give only 2.

Should I take off doors and windows?

You can subtract the width of a large window or patio door, but most people leave them in. The extra covers cutting round frames.

Sources

Quantities are estimates for typical jobs, using the coverage figures above. Products vary, so check the data sheet for the product you buy, and talk to a professional for structural, electrical or gas work. SmartBuild is independent and not affiliated with any of the manufacturers listed.

How much paint do I need for a room?To work out how much paint you need for a room, measure the walls, take off doors and windows, multiply by the number of coats and divide by 12. Here is the rule, a worked example and a calculator that does it for you. How much plaster do I need to skim a wall or room?A finish skim is about 2mm thick. British Gypsum says a 25kg bag of Multi-Finish covers about 10 m² at that thickness. How many plasterboards do I need?To work out how many plasterboard sheets you need: each standard 2400 x 1200mm sheet covers 2.88 m². Divide your area by that, add 10% for cuts, then work out the screws, tape and plaster to go with it.

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