Carpet for a 16 × 20 room
Short answer
A 16 × 20 ft room is 320 sq ft (35.6 sq yd) of carpet — about $2,763–$5,280 installed with padding and labor at standard grade. It's wider than a 12-ft roll, so plan on 1 seam and about 50% waste.
Carpet needed
35.6 sq yd
Installed cost
$2,763–$5,280
Floor area
320 sq ft
Seams
1
Carpeting a 16 × 20 room
A 16 × 20-foot room is 320 sq ft, or 35.6 square yards (carpet is priced by the yard — divide square feet by 9). Carpet comes off a 12-ft broadloom roll, so this room takes about 40 running feet, pieced from 2 strips with 1 seam and roughly 50% waste.
Installed cost is three layers: the carpet itself ($1,867–$2,933 at standard grade), padding ($96–$480), and labor ($800–$1,867) — about $2,763–$5,280 all in. Grade, stairs, and tearing out old carpet move that most.
What drives your cost
| Factor | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Floor area | ~320 sq ft (35.6 sq yd) — carpet is priced per square yard |
| Roll width & seams | Wider than a 12-ft roll here, so 1 seam and offcut waste |
| Carpet grade | Economy vs premium roughly doubles the material price per square yard |
| Padding / underlay | A separate per-sq-ft cost; thicker pad adds comfort and a little price |
| Installation | Labor is charged per square yard; stairs and tricky layouts cost more |
| Old carpet removal | Tear-out and haul-away of the existing floor is an add-on most quotes list separately |
Cost by carpet grade
Installed cost for this 16 × 20 room — carpet, padding, and labor — by grade.
| Grade | Carpet only | Installed total |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | $1,067–$1,867 | $1,963–$4,214 |
| Standard | $1,867–$2,933 | $2,763–$5,280 |
| Premium | $2,933–$4,267 | $3,829–$6,614 |
Carpet buying tips
- Measure each room and closet separately — carpet is cut off a fixed-width roll, so a long thin space wastes more than its square footage suggests.
- Plan seam placement away from doorways and high-traffic paths; a good installer hides seams where you'll least see or feel them.
- Don't skimp on padding — a better pad makes cheap carpet feel plush and extends its life more than a grade bump does.
- Ask whether the quote includes old-carpet removal, furniture moving, and tack strips; those add-ons are where surprise costs hide.
Your exact room
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Frequently asked questions
How much carpet do I need for a 16 × 20 room?
A 16 × 20 ft room is 320 sq ft (35.6 sq yd). Off a 12-ft roll that's about 40 running feet, with 1 seam and roughly 50% waste.
How much does it cost to carpet a 16 × 20 room?
About $2,763–$5,280 installed for a 16 × 20 room at standard grade — that's carpet ($1,867–$2,933), padding, and labor. Deluxe carpet or stairs cost more.
Will a 16 × 20 room need a carpet seam?
Yes. The room is wider than a standard 12-ft carpet roll, so it takes 2 strips with 1 seam. A 15-ft roll can remove the seam if your room is 15 ft or less on the short side.