The Cost of Carpeting a Room 18 m Long: Quick Guide: 1 Minute to Estimate Your Carpet Expenses for Any Room Size

I often get asked for fast, reliable numbers when carpeting long rooms. If your room is 18 meters in length, the true cost hinges on accurate area measurement, material choice, pad quality, and installation complexity. Here’s a clear framework to help you estimate and then refine the budget, with a few field-tested tips you can apply immediately.

Start with the floor area. Multiply length by width to get square meters. For example, an 18 m by 4 m room yields 72 m². Next, add a waste factor—typically 10% for broadloom carpet and 5%–8% for carpet tiles to account for seams, pattern matching, and cuts. Steelcase notes workspace performance is meaningfully influenced by material selection that supports comfort and maintenance cycles; aligning materials with usage reduces lifecycle cost (steelcase.com/research). WELL v2 also highlights the role of flooring in acoustic comfort and VOC limits, both of which can affect product selection and installation detailing (v2.wellcertified.com).

Based on current market ranges I see in projects, broadloom carpet typically runs from $25–$70 per m² installed, depending on fiber (nylon, solution-dyed nylon, wool), pile construction, backing, pad, and labor region. Carpet tiles tend to range from $40–$110 per m² installed due to higher material cost but lower waste and easier replacement. For a 72 m² room with 10% waste (79.2 m²), a mid-range broadloom at $45/m² would land around $3,564; the same area in mid-range tiles at $75/m² would be about $5,940. These ballpark figures assume straightforward installation and standard pad.

Calculate Your Area and Waste

Measure the longest dimension (18 m) and the perpendicular width. Multiply to get total area. Add waste: 10% for broadloom; 5%–8% for tiles. If you have patterns (e.g., bold linear motifs) or diagonal layouts, increase waste to 12%–15%. For complex floor plans, a simple interior layout planner helps confirm coverage and seam strategy; a room layout tool can visualize roll widths and tile grids for more precise takeoffs: room layout tool.

Material Choices That Influence Cost

Fiber matters. Solution-dyed nylon offers excellent stain and fade resistance at mid-to-high price points; polypropylene is budget-friendly but lower in resilience; wool delivers premium tactility and natural flame resistance with higher cost and maintenance needs. Construction also drives price and performance: cut pile reads plush but shows traffic faster; loop and patterned loop better disguise wear. Backing type (action back, polyurethane cushion back) can change installation method and acoustic performance.

Pad and Underlayment

Don’t skimp on cushion. A quality rebond or high-density polyurethane pad in the 8–10 mm range improves comfort, longevity, and acoustics. WELL v2 criteria on sound aim for balanced reverberation; thicker cushion plus dense carpet helps attenuate footfall, which is noticeable in long rooms where sound can travel. In high-traffic zones, consider carpet tiles with integral cushion back to reduce maintenance cycles.

Installation Factors and Hidden Costs

Budget for furniture moving, disposal of existing flooring, subfloor repairs, thresholds, stair nosings if applicable, and door undercutting. Seams in an 18 m span need thoughtful placement; fewer long seams typically mean better wear. Adhesive choice (low-VOC) aligns with WELL v2 guidelines and may slightly affect cost. For apartments or multi-level homes, logistics (elevator scheduling, parking, delivery constraints) add time and potentially fees.

Acoustic and Comfort Considerations

Long rooms often suffer from flutter echo and corridor-like reflections. Carpet significantly improves speech clarity and reduces impact noise. Pair carpet with soft furnishings and acoustic panels for balanced reverberation. IES doesn’t set acoustic values for flooring, but from experience, combining carpet tiles with cushion backing in narrow long rooms yields a measurable subjective reduction in footfall noise and improves perceived comfort during gatherings.

Color and Light Strategy

Color influences perception and maintenance. Neutral mid-tones hide soil better than very light or very dark hues. In long rooms, lighter colors at the ends and slightly warmer mid-tone carpets in the center can visually shorten the volume. Verywell Mind’s notes on color psychology indicate warm tones can feel inviting and energizing, while cool tones promote calm—use these cues to align with the room’s primary activities (verywellmind.com/color-psychology).

Durability, Traffic, and Lifecycle Budgeting

Define traffic intensity: residential living rooms differ from busy offices or hallways. Higher-density tufting, solution-dyed fibers, and tighter loops extend service life. Steelcase research repeatedly connects material durability to reduced downtime; choosing a tile system in heavy-use areas lowers replacement costs because only damaged tiles need swapping. Factor cleaning methods—hot water extraction vs. low-moisture systems—and maintenance intervals into the lifecycle cost.

Quick Estimation Framework

- Measure: Length × Width = Area (m²).

- Add waste: 10% broadloom; 5%–8% tiles.

- Choose grade: budget, mid, premium (material + pad).

- Multiply by installed rate per m².

- Add line items: furniture moving, disposal, subfloor prep, logistics.

- Verify seams and orientation to minimize pattern mismatch and improve wear.

Example Cost Scenarios

- Budget broadloom, 79.2 m² × $30/m² ≈ $2,376.

- Mid-range broadloom, 79.2 m² × $45/m² ≈ $3,564.

- Premium wool broadloom, 79.2 m² × $90/m² ≈ $7,128.

- Mid-range carpet tiles, 76–79 m² × $75/m² ≈ $5,700–$5,925.

Regional labor rates, product brands, and pad quality will push these figures up or down. Always request an on-site measure before finalizing.

Planning and Visualization

For long rooms, I like to simulate roll widths (usually 3.66 m) to anticipate seams and choose an orientation that reduces visual fragmentation. Mocking the plan in an interior layout planner helps compare tile modularity vs. broadloom’s seam logic. Try a layout simulation tool to align doorways, circulation paths, and furniture anchoring: layout simulation tool.

FAQ

Q1: How do I calculate carpet quantity for an 18 m long room?

A1: Multiply length by width to get area, then add waste—10% for broadloom; 5%–8% for tiles. If the layout has patterns or diagonal cuts, increase waste to 12%–15%.

Q2: Broadloom vs. carpet tiles—what’s more cost-effective?

A2: Broadloom usually has lower material cost but higher waste and trickier repairs. Tiles cost more upfront but reduce waste and allow spot replacement, often lowering lifecycle costs in high-traffic spaces.

Q3: What impacts installation price the most?

A3: Subfloor condition, furniture moving, removal and disposal of old flooring, stair work, seam complexity, and logistics (access, parking, elevator) are the biggest variables.

Q4: Do I need a carpet pad?

A4: Yes for broadloom—choose a dense, quality cushion to improve comfort and longevity. Many carpet tiles have integrated cushion; otherwise, they install with adhesive directly to the subfloor.

Q5: How does color choice affect maintenance?

A5: Mid-tone, patterned, or heathered carpets disguise soil and wear better than extremes. Warmer hues can make long rooms feel more inviting; cooler hues calm busy environments.

Q6: What about acoustics in a long room?

A6: Carpet with cushion backing reduces footfall noise and reflections. Combine with soft furnishings and, if needed, acoustic panels to balance reverberation.

Q7: How do I avoid visible seams?

A7: Align seams with furniture groupings, run pile direction consistently, and plan using roll widths or tile grids. Patterned carpets may need extra waste to match motifs.

Q8: Are low-VOC adhesives worth it?

A8: Yes. They improve indoor air quality and align with WELL v2 goals; they may slightly increase cost but reduce occupant sensitivity and odor during installation.

Q9: What’s a reasonable cost range per m²?

A9: Broadloom installed: roughly $25–$70/m²; carpet tiles: $40–$110/m², varying by fiber, backing, pad, and region. Confirm with local suppliers for current quotes.

Q10: How often should carpet be replaced?

A10: Residential broadloom often lasts 7–12 years depending on traffic and care; tiles in commercial settings can exceed that with selective replacement. Maintenance frequency and fiber quality are key.