Knowing how to accurately measure the size of a room will help you with your regular home projects, such as whitewashing or laying a new floor. According to the needs that lead you to have to measure a room, it is necessary to evaluate different aspects, for example, if you are working on the flooring, you need to know the area of the floor. If you want to whitewash a room, you need to know the surface of the walls and ceiling instead. Note that, if you have never performed it before, the measurement process can be difficult and very complex, especially if there are structures in the room such as sloping ceilings, niches and bay windows.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Measure the Floors
Step 1. Draw a floor plan of the room you wish to measure
You will need it to write down all the measurements you are going to take. The drawing will need to be to scale, but the more accurate you do it, the more useful it will turn out.
- Since you are simply measuring the floor, including doors and windows on the floor plan should not be necessary.
- Include all areas involved in the project. If you need to lay new flooring in a room where there is a walk-in closet, you must include it in the plan because the new flooring will also be installed in this environment.
- Suppose that in the hypothetical room taken as an example there is also a bathroom on the right side (which being a separate room should not be included in our map) and a bay window on the left side (represented with a semicircle).
Step 2. Measure the length and width of the room
To calculate the area of a room, the standard formula is used: Area = Length x Width. Measure the length and width of the room at the widest points. This is important in order to obtain a correct measurement.
- Move objects or furniture items that prevent you from taking measurements correctly.
- Having a friend to help you take measurements can be very helpful.
- For the moment, measure the total area of the room. In this step do not consider any bay windows or separate areas, such as a bathroom.
Step 3. To get the overall area of the room multiply the length by the width
To make an accurate calculation use a calculator. For example, let's assume that the room measurements are 4m wide and 4m long. The area of the floor in question will therefore be equal to 16 m2. The result is the overall floor area - make a note of the number on the floor plan drawing.
Step 4. Now measure the length and width of any room or niche that has a rectangular or square shape
This category often includes walk-in closets and bathrooms, environments that need to be included in the general flooring project. Take measurements using the same method used to calculate the area of the main room. Measure the width and length of the environment under consideration, then multiply the two values to obtain the area.
- Make a note of the result and report it on the map.
- Repeat this step for each compartment or niche in the room.
Step 5. Calculate the area of each circular room
Measure the width and length of the space at the widest point (since it is circular, it will normally be the imaginary line that passes through the center and therefore corresponds to the diameter). Do not include the surface parts already included in the main room measurement. The next step is to divide the length measurement in half. Multiply the resulting value by the width, then multiply the result of the last step by the value of π (3, 14) and divide the result in half.
- Report the area of the circular compartment just calculated on the map.
- At this point you will have calculated the area of all extensions of the room that have a U shape.
- The occupied area of the bay window should only be included in the project if it is equipped with a floor (and not a seat) and if the ceiling height is at least 2.13 m.
Step 6. To obtain the total area of the floor add together the data calculated in the previous steps
Add up the area of the main room with the area of all the compartments and accessory niches. At the end of the operation you will have obtained the total area of the flooring to be laid, as it will allow you to purchase the exact amount of parquet, tiles, carpet or any other material you wish to use.
Method 2 of 4: Measure the Walls
Step 1. Draw a floor plan of all the walls you need to measure
In this case, include the windows and doors in the drawing. Remember to leave enough space on the drawing to make a note of individual measurements.
Step 2. Measure the width and height of the wall
To calculate the area of a wall, the standard formula is used: Area = Width x Height. To measure the size of the wall use a classic tape measure. Measuring the height of a wall can be difficult, so ask for help from a friend or neighbor. When finished, take note of the measured value by writing it on the map.
Step 3. Multiply the width and height together
To do this, use a calculator. The value obtained is equivalent to the total area, expressed in square meters, of the wall in question. Take note of this value as well.
Step 4. Measure the width and height of any window, door or fixed structure on the wall in question (wall units, sinks, shelves, light points, etc.)
). Record all measurements on the floor plan drawing.
Step 5. Multiply the height and width of each door, window or fixed structure identified in the previous step
To help you with the calculations, use a calculator. When finished, make a note of each individual result. These measurements indicate the extent in square meters of doors, windows and any other fixed structures present on the wall.
Step 6. Calculate the total area occupied by doors, windows and structures on the wall
This step only applies to walls that have more than one door, window or fixture. When finished, take note of the result.
Step 7. Now subtract the result obtained in step number 6 from the total area of the wall
Again, perform the calculations with the help of a calculator. The number obtained is equivalent to the area of the wall expressed in square meters. You can use this number as a reference when purchasing paint or wallpaper.
Method 3 of 4: Measure the Perimeter of a Room
Step 1. Measure the length and width of a rectangular or square room
To do this, use the following standard formula: 2 x (Length + Width). To measure the room in question use a classic tape measure.
Step 2. Add the length and width of the room, then multiply the resulting value by 2
To make sure you don't make a mistake, use a calculator to do the calculations. After adding length and width together, multiply the result by two to obtain the perimeter of the room in question.
Step 3. Manually measure the perimeter of an uneven room
If the room whose perimeter you want to measure is not rectangular or square, you have to manually measure each side. Walk the entire perimeter of the room by measuring the length of each side with a tape measure, then write down the values obtained on the floor plan.
Step 4. Add up all the measurements you have taken
To do this, help yourself with a calculator. The result obtained will correspond to the total length of the perimeter of the irregular room in question.
Method 4 of 4: Measure the Ceiling
Step 1. Calculate the floor area
This step is described in the first method of this article. If the ceiling is level, by calculating the area of the floor, you will automatically get that of the ceiling as well. In a square or rectangular room with a flat ceiling, the floor area is exactly the same as the ceiling area. In the case of an uneven ceiling, where there are protruding or sloping parts, continue reading the next passage.
Step 2. Measure each additional ceiling area separately
This step only applies to uneven, non-flat ceilings. Some ceilings have niches or protruding bay windows. In this case, measure the width and depth of each niche or window. Remember to make a note of each measurement.
- A sloping ceiling, equipped with niches or where irregular shapes of any kind are present, will have an overall area greater than the floor. You will have to take this into consideration when purchasing all materials (for example by buying an additional quantity).
- In many cases the ceiling is difficult to reach. If you need to measure the ceiling area, get a friend to help you.
- In order to reach the ceiling and be able to carry out all the necessary measurements, most likely, you will need a ladder.
Step 3. Calculate the total area of the ceiling by adding all the results obtained
To the area value calculated in step number 1, add all the additional areas calculated in the previous step. When finished, make a note of the final result.
Step 4. Calculate the area of each skylight
If your ceiling does not have a skylight, you can move on to the next step. The ceilings of rooms such as attics often have skylights, so the area of these windows will be subtracted from the total calculated in step 3. To calculate the area of a skylight, measure its length and width, then multiply between their identified values.
Step 5. Subtract the skylight area from the total ceiling area
Subtract the number obtained in step 4 from the total value of the ceiling area. The result obtained, expressed in square meters, will correspond to the total area of the ceiling of the room in question.
Advice
- If you need the measurements to install a parquet, tile or laminate floor, calculate the area to be covered using the method described in this article, but be sure to purchase some extra material to make up for the waste that will be generated during installation.. Normally it is used to take into account an average deviation of 10%.
- Perform all calculations using the calculator.
- If you want to make your job easier, ask a friend for help. This way, while one of you takes the measurements, the other can take notes.
