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Square Yard Calculator

Updated How we build and test

Turn room or lot measurements, or a square footage, into square yards for carpet, sod or paving, with a waste allowance and a price per yard.

Start from
%

For seams, pattern matching and cuts. Use 0 for the exact area.

$

Area

Enter the measurements to see square yards.

How to use the square yard calculator

  1. Enter the length and width in feet, inches, yards or meters, or switch to Square feet if you already know the area.
  2. Add an allowance for waste. Carpet and vinyl come in fixed roll widths, so seams and pattern matching use extra material.
  3. Enter the price per square yard from your quote to see the total.

Square yard formula

Square yards = length (ft) × width (ft) ÷ 9
Square yards = square feet ÷ 9
Square yards = square meters × 1.19599

A square yard is 3 ft × 3 ft, so it holds 9 square feet. Converting meters uses the exact definition of the yard, 0.9144 m.

Worked example: carpet for a 12 × 15 ft room

  1. Area: 12 × 15 = 180 ft².
  2. Square yards: 180 ÷ 9 = 20 yd².
  3. With 10% extra: 20 × 1.10 = 22 yd².

Square yards for common room sizes

Room Square feet Square yards With 10% extra
10 × 10 ft 100 11.11 12.22
12 × 12 ft 144 16 17.6
12 × 15 ft 180 20 22
15 × 20 ft 300 33.33 36.67
20 × 30 ft 600 66.67 73.33

Where square yards are used

  • Carpet is often quoted per square yard, though many stores now show a square-foot price too. Divide a per-yard price by 9 to compare.
  • Paving and sealcoating contractors often price per square yard; the asphalt calculator turns square yards into tons.
  • Landscaping fabric and sod may be sold by the square yard or the square foot; check the unit before you compare prices.

Questions

How many square feet are in a square yard?

9. A square yard measures 3 ft on each side.

How do I convert square feet to square yards?

Divide by 9. For example, 450 ft² ÷ 9 = 50 yd².

How many square yards is a 12 × 12 room?

144 ft² ÷ 9 = 16 yd², before any extra for seams.

How do I compare a per-yard and a per-foot price?

Divide the price per square yard by 9 to get the price per square foot. $36 per yd² is $4 per ft².

Sources

  1. NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot, cubic yard and gallon conversions.

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