The document provides information and formulas for calculating the amount of wallpaper needed to cover walls of different shapes and sizes. It explains how to calculate surface areas, deduct areas such as doors and windows, and determine the number of rolls required including an additional percentage for wastage. Worked examples are included to demonstrate calculating wallpaper requirements and total costs factoring in the cost per roll along with VAT.

1. Paperhanging Calculations
As a paperhanger, you will be asked to determine the amount of
wallpaper required to decorate a room. You may even be asked to submit
a quotation for a job, so the following pages will take you through the
1
calculations for this.
Calculating The Surface Areas Of Common Shapes
You may find the following formulae useful when calculating areas of common
shapes.
• Area of Square = length x height (l x h)
• Area of Rectangle = length x height (l x h)
• Area of Triangle = half base x height (1/2 b x h)
• Area of Circle = ∏r2
(3.142 x r x r)
• Area of a Room = distance (perimeter) around room x height (p x h)
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wall coverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 1

2. Unit No:
Areas Worksheet
Using the formulae from previous page calculate the following areas, (show
all working):
4m
1.
4m
6m
2.
4m
3.
4.
6m
8m
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
Unit No: D 04 Week 1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 2
4.5m

3. Measuring To Determine The Amount Of Wallpaper Required
Basically, we need to find out how many rolls of wallpaper are required to
decorate any given area.
This can be done by identifying the surface area to be papered and dividing
it by the area of one roll of wallpaper.
Area of Wall
Area of Wall covering
Example
How much wallpaper is required to decorate a room with an area of 135m2
?
Firstly we need to know what the area of a roll of wallpaper is, and we do
that by multiplying its length by its width, (10 x 0.530 = 5.3m2
)
• Amount of wallpaper required = 135 ÷ 5.3
= 25.47
= 26 rolls required
This simple formula is a foundation for calculating rolls of wallpaper
required. There are, however, a few things to consider when calculating
amounts required, and these are wastage from cutting & complicated areas.
It is therefore important that measurements & calculations are accurate
and that the above implications have been considered. It is advisable to add
8% per roll to allow for wastage.
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
Unit No: D 04 Week 1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 3

4. Calculations Worksheet
Calculate the number of rolls of wallpaper required to decorate the following
wall areas. Answers must be laid out as shown in example.
1. 153m2
(153 ÷ 5.3) = 28.868 or 29 rolls required.
2. 100m2
3. 60m2
4. 258m2
5. 76m2
6. 89m2
7. 42m2
8. 145m2
9. 110m2
10. 96m2
11. 390m2
12. 25m2
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
Unit No: D 04 Week 1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 4

5. Deductions
When calculating areas to be wallpapered, it is important that you remember
to deduct areas like doors & windows, etc.
Example
Calculating area to be papered on the wall
Formula = length x height - deductions
= 7m x 3m - (1m x 2m) + (1m x 2m)
= 21m2
- 4m2
= 17m2
Amount of wallpaper required = (17m2
÷ 5.3m2
) + 8% wastage
= 3.21m2
+ 8%* * (3.21 x 8 ÷ 100)
= 3.21m2
+ 0.26
= 3.47 4 rolls reqd.
If wallpaper costs £9.99 per roll + 17.5% vat then total cost is
= (4 x £9.99) + 17.5%* *(39.96 x 17.5 ÷ 100)
= £39.96 + £6.99
= £46.95 Total cost is £46.95
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
Unit No: D 04 Week 1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 5
1m
1m
2m
2m
3m
7m

6. Calculation
Using the drawing below, calculate the total cost of wallpaper (£12.95 per
roll) required to decorate the wall. Remember to add 8% for wastage &
17.5% for vat.
Formula = length x height - deductions
=
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
BH/TAPS/CALCS 6
2.6
12.8
0.920
2
1
1.6

7. Unit No: D 04 Week 1
Calculations Worksheet
Calculate the cost of wallpaper, for the following room sizes. Remember to
add 17.5% vat. Cost of paper shown in brackets.
1) 8m x 5m (£7.99) 40m2
÷ 5.3 = 7.55 (8 rolls) @ £7.99 + vat = £75.11
2) 10m x 6m (£8.99)
3) 12m x 14m (£5.99)
4) 6m x 3m (£7.99)
5)15m x 12m (£9.99)
6) 18m x 8m (£12.99)
7) 22m x 12m (£8.99)
8) 12m x 12m (£6.99)
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
Unit No: D 04 Week 1
BH/TAPS/CALCS 7

8. Final Calculation
From the information provided, attempt the following:
Assuming that the other 2 walls in this room are the same size as above, but
with no features, calculate the number of rolls required to paper the room.
Calculate the cost of the wallpaper, which is £12.99 per roll. Please show all
workings. Remember to add 8% for wastage & 17.5% for vat.
Area of Walls = P x H – Deductions
=
=
Wallpaper req. =
=
=
=
Total cost =
=
=
Painting and Decorative Finishes
Apply Wallcoverings to Non-Complex Locations
Calculations
BH/TAPS/CALCS 8
5m 6m
3m
1m
2m
1m
2.2m

9. Unit No: D 04 Week 1
Complete these charts using the information form the previous page.
Material Area/Coverage Price Amount Required £ P
wallpaper
adhesive
Total Cost
Labour Cost No of Hours Req
No of Rolls Req
Cost per Hour £ P
*
* * + 17.5% VAT
* * Total Cost
Labour Cost £
Material Cost £
Total Cost £
BH/TAPS/CALCS 9

10. Unit No: D 04 Week 1
Complete these charts using the information form the previous page.
Material Area/Coverage Price Amount Required £ P
wallpaper
adhesive
Total Cost
Labour Cost No of Hours Req
No of Rolls Req
Cost per Hour £ P
*
* * + 17.5% VAT
* * Total Cost
Labour Cost £
Material Cost £
Total Cost £
BH/TAPS/CALCS 9