How to Measure the Area of a Room

Knowing how to measure the area of a room correctly will help with home improvements, like flooring and wall painting. Depending on the reason for measuring the room area, you apply different measurement methods. For example, if you are planning to lay the floor, you need to know the floor area; if you’re going to paint the walls, you need to know the area of the walls and ceiling, etc. This can be difficult if you’ve never done it before, and can be complicated by parts of the room like slanted ceilings. , alcoves, or open windows.

Table of Contents

Measure Floors

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/70/Measure-a-Room-Step-01.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-01. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/70/Measure-a-Room-Step-01.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 01.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Draw a floor plan of the room you are measuring. ^{[1] X Research Source} You will use this drawing to record your measurements. The drawing doesn’t have to be to scale, but the more precise the better.

Since you are only measuring the floor area of the room, it should not be a problem to include both windows and doors in the drawing.
Include all surfaces to be calculated into the drawing. For example, if you are measuring floor space, including a dressing room, draw the dressing room on the diagram.
In the hypothetical drawing, there is a bathroom on the right hand side (it’s a separate room, so no need to draw it in the diagram) and a window on the left side (show it as a half circle).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9d/Measure-a-Room-Step-02.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-02. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9d/Measure-a-Room-Step-02.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 02.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Measure the length and width of the main area of the room. To measure the area of a room, use the standard formula: Area = (Length) x (Width). ^{[2] X Research Source} Measure the maximum length and width at the furthest point of the room. ^{[3] X Research Source} This is very important to help you get accurate measurements.

Move objects or furniture away when measuring.
Have someone else hold a measuring tape.
Now you just measure the main area. In this step, ignore the window and other separate parts like the bathroom.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/36/Measure-a-Room-Step-03.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-03. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/36/Measure-a-Room-Step-03.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 03.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Multiply the length and width to get the main surface area measure. Calculate by hand calculator for accurate measurements. For example, if the room is 3.6 meters wide and 3.6 meters long, the floor area will be 12.96 square meters. The result obtained is the measure of the total floor area of the room. Enter this number on the drawing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/42/Measure-a-Room-Step-04.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-04. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/42/Measure-a-Room-Step-04.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 04.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Measure the length and width of square or rectangular recesses. These sections typically include a closet or bathroom that are part of your room’s floor plan. Measure square or rectangular niches in the same way as measuring the main area of the room. Measure the length and width of the recess and multiply them together to get the area of the niche.

Write the result in the niche on your drawing.
Repeat this step if there are multiple niches in the room.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/67/Measure-a-Room-Step-05.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-05. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/67/Measure-a-Room-Step-05.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 05.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Calculate the area of the circular recess. Measure the maximum length (usually through the center of the circle) and the width of the recess. ^{[4] X Research Source} Do not measure beyond the edge of the main area you have measured. Next, divide the length by 2. Multiply the result by the width. Go ahead, multiply all by pi (3,14). Finally divide the area by two.

Record the results in the cavity symbol on the drawing.
You’ve got the result of a U-shaped overhang in the room.
The area of the window opening to the outside is only included in the room area if the window is close to the floor (rather than the sill) and the ceiling is at least 2.13 m high.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a2/Measure-a-Room-Step-06.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-06. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a2/Measure-a-Room-Step-06.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 06.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Add all the results together to get the total floor area. Add all the recess area to the main floor area. Now that you have the total floor area, you can buy carpet, tiles or other materials according to this area.

Measure Wall

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ea/Measure-a-Room-Step-07.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-07. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ea/Measure-a-Room-Step-07.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 07.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Draw all the walls you need to measure. Add doors and windows to the drawing. Leave enough room to fill in the measurements.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2a/Measure-a-Room-Step-08.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-08. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2a/Measure-a-Room-Step-08.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 08.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Measure the width and height of the wall. To calculate the area of a wall, use the standard formula: Area = (Height) x (Width). ^{[5] X Research Source} Use a tape measure to measure the width and height of the wall. Since the walls are often high, you can ask someone to help hold the tape measure. Record measurements on drawings.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/05/Measure-a-Room-Step-09.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room-Step-09. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/05/Measure-a-Room-Step-09.jpg/v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step- 09.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Multiply the height and width together. Using a calculator, multiply the height and width of the wall. That is the total area of the wall. Record the results.

Calculate the Perimeter of the Room

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fe/Measure-a-Room-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fe/Measure-a-Room-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Calculate the length and width of a square or rectangular room. Use the standard formula: Perimeter = 2(Length + Width) to find the perimeter of the room. ^{[6] X Research Source} Use a tape measure to calculate the length and width of the room.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a9/Measure-a-Room-Step-15-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-15-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a9/Measure-a-Room-Step-15-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-15-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Add the length and width together, multiply the result by 2. Calculate the exact result. After adding the length and width together, and then multiplying by 2, you have the perimeter of the room.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3b/Measure-a-Room-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3b/Measure-a-Room-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Calculate the perimeter of a room of a different shape. If the room you are measuring is not square or rectangular, you need to measure each side of the room. Measure around the room, recording the length of each side.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/94/Measure-a-Room-Step-17-Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-17-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/94/Measure-a-Room-Step-17-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-17-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Add up all the measurements. Use a calculator to add up your measurements of the room. The calculated result is the perimeter of the room.

Measure Ceiling Area

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b5/Measure-a-Room-Step-18-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b5/Measure-a-Room-Step-18-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Calculate the floor area. This method has been described in method 1. If the ceiling is flat, by calculating the floor area, you have the ceiling area result. For square or rectangular rooms with flat ceilings, the ceiling area is the floor area. ^{[7] X Source of Study} If the ceiling has protrusions or recesses, continue to step 2.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a1/Measure-a-Room-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Measure-a-Room- Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a1/Measure-a-Room-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Measure-a-Room-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Calculate the area of the ceiling appendages separately. This step only applies when the ceiling is not flat. Many ceilings have alcoves and bay windows; Please measure the length and width of those parts. ^{[8] X Research Source} Record the measurements.

Ceilings that slant or have niches or other shapes have a wider surface area than the floor, so keep this in mind when you’re buying materials (which means overbuying).
The ceiling is hard to reach. So if you’re measuring the area of a ceiling, ask a friend to help.
You need a scale to measure the area of the ceiling.

Advice

If you are measuring to re-pave a wooden, tile, or laminate floor, calculate the floor area as above, but be sure to purchase excess materials that include any excess that is removed. The industry standard is 10% scrap. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Use a calculator to calculate measurements.
Thank you for helping to make the job easier. One person records the measurement while the other takes the measurement. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Utensils necessary

Measure
Pencil
Paper
Laptop
Ladder

Steps