Tools
Free planning tools for your home.
Quick calculators for the measurements people most often get wrong. Enter your room's dimensions and get a sensible starting figure, with the reasoning explained. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
Paint calculatorLitres or gallons for walls and ceiling, deducting doors and windows, with the number of coats and the tins to buy.
Rug size calculatorMinimum and nearest standard rug size for a living room layout, a dining table or a bed, with a check against your room size.
Curtain calculatorPole length, fixing height, finished drop and curtain width for your window and heading style.
How to measure a room accurately
- Use a steel tape measure or a laser measure. Fabric tapes stretch, and phone apps can be several centimetres out over a long wall.
- Measure each wall at skirting height and at shoulder height. Older walls are rarely straight; use the larger figure for coverings and the smaller for furniture.
- Note heights separately: floor to ceiling, floor to window sill and top of window frame to ceiling. Measure in two or three places.
- Mark fixed features: radiators, sockets, switches, doors and the direction they open. A door swing can take up a surprising amount of floor.
- Draw a simple plan to scale (1:20 or 1:50 on squared paper works well) and write every measurement on it before you shop.
Calculators give you estimates based on common rules of thumb, which are explained on each tool page. For the reasoning behind the numbers, see our guides to how much paint you need, rug sizes and choosing and hanging curtains.