How Much Wallpaper Do I Need? Panels vs Rolls Explained
Most UK DIY and decorating shops sell wallpaper by the roll, usually 52cm wide and 10m long. ClickWalls works differently: every design is printed to order in panels 61cm (24") wide, already cut to the height you choose. That makes ordering simpler once you know how, but it means the roll calculators you may have used before do not apply. This guide shows you how to work out exactly what to order.
The two measurements you need
You only need the width and the height of the wall you are papering. Use a metal tape measure and write both down in centimetres.
- Width: measure along the wall at the top, middle and bottom, and use the largest figure. Walls are rarely perfectly square.
- Height: measure from the top of the skirting board to the ceiling (or to the coving or picture rail, if you are papering below it) at both ends of the wall, and use the larger figure.
Do not subtract anything for doors, windows or sockets on a single wall. You will trim around them when you hang the paper, and you still need full panels either side.
Step 1: choose your panel height
Our panels come in six heights. Choose the closest size above your wall height so you have extra to trim at the top and bottom.
| Size option | Panel height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 24" x 24" | 61cm | Splashbacks, panels and furniture |
| 24" x 48" | 122cm | Below a dado rail |
| 24" x 72" | 183cm | Sloped ceilings, alcoves and low walls |
| 24" x 96" | 244cm | Most UK rooms |
| 24" x 120" | 305cm | Taller ceilings and older properties |
| 24" x 144" | 366cm | Very high ceilings, stairwells and hallways |
Is your wall within 10cm of a panel height? Many UK rooms are about 2.4m high, which leaves very little to trim from a 244cm panel. If your wall is less than 10cm shorter than the size you would choose, or you would like a height that is not listed, email your measurements to contact@clickwalls.co.uk before you order. We will make your panels to size and add 5cm to 10cm for trimming, free of charge.
Step 2: work out how many panels
Divide your wall width in centimetres by 61 and round up to the next whole number. That is the number of panels to order, which you set using the quantity box.
Example: a wall 330cm wide and 225cm high. 330 ÷ 61 = 5.4, so you need 6 panels, in the 24" x 96" (244cm) height.
How panels compare with rolls
If you are used to buying rolls, this table compares the two for a standard 2.4m-high wall. The roll figures assume a 52cm x 10m roll, cut into four full-height drops with 10cm allowed for trimming, and a design with no large pattern repeat.
| Wall width | Standard 52cm rolls | ClickWalls 61cm panels |
|---|---|---|
| 2m | 1 roll (4 drops) | 4 panels |
| 3m | 2 rolls (6 drops) | 5 panels |
| 3.6m | 2 rolls (7 drops) | 6 panels |
| 4m | 2 rolls (8 drops) | 7 panels |
| 4.5m | 3 rolls (9 drops) | 8 panels |
| 5m | 3 rolls (10 drops) | 9 panels |
As a rough guide, at a normal ceiling height one roll covers about 2m of wall width, which is the same as three to four of our panels. But please do not convert a roll quote into panels: measure the wall and use the steps above, because a roll estimate includes waste that you do not get with panels.
Why panels mean less waste
- No cutting drops from a roll. With rolls, the offcut at the end of each roll is often too short for another drop, especially on walls taller than 2.4m. Our panels arrive already cut to height.
- No extra for pattern matching. Shops usually advise an extra roll for large pattern repeats. Our panels are numbered and the pattern always matches from one panel to the next, so you only order what covers the wall.
- Wider drops. At 61cm, our panels are 9cm wider than a standard roll, so there are fewer seams on the wall.
- One print run. Every panel in your order is printed together, so you do not need to check batch numbers as you would with shop-bought rolls.
Murals
A mural is one large picture spread across the whole wall, so the design is scaled to your wall's measurements. It arrives as numbered strips cut to the height of your mural, which you hang from left to right. For murals, measure your wall exactly and add 5cm to 10cm to both the width and height to allow for uneven walls and trimming.
Most mural designs suit a wall that is roughly four units wide to three high, such as 320cm wide by 240cm high. If your wall is a very different shape, email your measurements to contact@clickwalls.co.uk before ordering and we will tell you how the design will fit.
More than one wall?
Work out each wall on its own and add the panels together. Treat chimney breasts and alcoves as separate walls, because panels do not wrap neatly around corners. If your walls are different heights, order each height as a separate item.
Before you order
- Measure twice. Wallpaper is printed to order for you, so it cannot be returned unless it arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect.
- Order a sample. An 8" x 12" sample costs £2. Choose your material, then the Sample size option, and see the colours on your own wall first.
- Need a size that is not listed? We can print any design to your measurements. Email contact@clickwalls.co.uk with your wall width and height and we will work it out for you.
Not sure which material to choose? Read our guide to peel and stick or traditional wallpaper, or browse the wallpaper collection.
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