Most people think measuring a wall is just height times width. Those people end up with expensive wallpaper that stops three inches short of the ceiling. Let's make sure you're not one of them.

What You'll Need

The essentials:

• Metal tape measure (at least 25 feet)

• Pencil and paper (or your phone's notes app)

• Step ladder

The nice-to-haves that actually matter:

• Level (because "eyeballing it" rarely works out)

• Calculator (for the math you'll pretend is simple)

• Helper (walls are surprisingly tall when you're measuring alone)

The Basic Wall Measurement

Start with the height. Measure from where the wall meets the ceiling down to the baseboard at three different points: left side, middle, and right side. Use the tallest measurement and add 4 inches for trimming room. Yes, 4 inches feels like waste. No, you shouldn't skip it.

For width, measure along the baseboard from corner to corner. Then measure again at the middle of the wall and near the ceiling. Walls have a funny habit of not being perfectly rectangular. Use the widest measurement.

Note: Our Luxe Traditional and Luxe Peel & Stick wallpapers have a butted joint, whereas the Peel & Stick wallpaper has a ½ inch overlap. Remember to account for that half inch when calculating rolls! (The easiest way is to just use 18.5 inches instead of 19 inches for the wallpaper roll width)

Dealing With Windows and Doors

Here's where people usually realize this is harder than it looked. Don't measure around obstacles – measure the full wall as if they weren't there. You'll cut around them during installation, but for ordering purposes, you need the full wall dimensions.

Pro Tip: Don't toss that extra wallpaper! It's perfect for a fun side project. Think dollhouse, a dog house interior, or even those kitchen drawer bottoms that always look so boring. Go wild!

That said, jot down the location and size of each obstacle. Measure from the nearest corner to each edge of your window or door. This helps during installation.

Corners, Alcoves, and Other Architectural Opinions

For inside corners, measure each wall separately. Add an extra inch to one wall's width for overlap – this creates a cleaner seam than trying to match edges perfectly in a corner that's probably not perfectly square anyway.

For outside corners (the ones that stick out), measure to the corner's edge and add 2 inches. This wrap-around prevents peeling and gives you something to work with when the corner inevitably isn't a perfect 90 degrees.

Calculating How Much to Order

Safe bet: Use our calculator tool on every product page to find the number of rolls needed for your space, and the length of the rolls to order. Let us handle the calculations; you just focus on getting accurate measurements.

You might be tempted to calculate the square footage and order accordingly, but keep in mind that patterns need to align perfectly. You can't rely on the leftover from one roll matching up at the top of the next panel. Plus, you'll end up with extra horizontal seams that will likely be hard, if not impossible, to match.

Woops! That's not going to look good.

The Measurement Checklist

Before you order:

• [ ] Measured height at three points, using the tallest

• [ ] Added 4 inches to height for trimming

• [ ] Measured width at three points, using the widest

• [ ] Noted all windows, doors, and obstacles

• [ ] Accounted for corners (inside and outside)

• [ ] Factored in pattern repeat if applicable

• [ ] Double-checked your math (seriously, just use our calcuator)

A Note on Being Realistic

Measuring seems straightforward until you're standing on a ladder trying to hold a tape measure steady at the 12-foot mark. Take your time. Measure twice, order once. And remember: having a bit extra is infinitely better than being a bit short.

Next Steps

Got your measurements? Good. Now you're ready to prep your walls – because even the best wallpaper can't hide poor preparation. Check out our prep guides for [peel and stick wallpaper - link to come] or [paste-the-wall wallpaper - link to come].

Still feeling uncertain about your measurements? That's normal. Send us your numbers and a photo of your wall – we've seen enough "creative" wall configurations to help you figure out what you actually need.

Remember: Walls are rarely as simple as they look, but they're never as complicated as they seem mid-measurement. You've got this.