For a simple, rectangular wall, measuring for a mural is easy – our step-by-step guide on how to measure your wall for a wall mural covers it in five minutes. But many homes have walls that are anything but simple. This guide explains how to work out how much wallpaper you need for the tricky ones.
The golden rule: measure the rectangle
Because a mural is printed as one continuous image, you always order the smallest rectangle that covers the whole area, then trim the excess on the wall. Take the widest point and the tallest point, add about 5 cm (2 in) to each for trimming, and enter that size on the product page.
Area = width × height. For example, 300 × 250 cm = 3 m × 2.5 m = 7.5 m². In feet: 118 × 98 in ≈ 9.8 × 8.2 ft ≈ 80 sq ft. The calculator on every product page does this for you as soon as you type in your size.
Sloped ceilings and attic rooms
For a wall under a sloping roof, measure the full width at the floor and the height at the tallest point. Order that rectangle, then trim along the slope when you hang it. Tip: choose a design whose main focal point sits in the lower or taller part of the wall, so it won't be cut off by the slope – landscapes and forests work especially well because they can be trimmed anywhere.
Alcoves either side of a chimney breast
You have two choices:
- Paper the alcoves only: measure each alcove separately and order one mural per alcove. Ideal for a symmetrical look.
- Paper the whole chimney wall: measure the total width including the depth of both chimney returns (the side faces), then add your 5 cm. The design will wrap around the chimney breast as one image.
Walls with windows and doors
Don't subtract windows or doors. Order the full wall size and cut around the openings when you hang the panels. This keeps the design aligned across the whole wall – otherwise, part of the picture would end up in the wrong place.
Stairways
Stairway walls are usually a trapezoid. Measure the width along the wall, then the height at the tallest point (usually at the bottom of the stairs, from the lowest step to the ceiling). Order that rectangle and trim along the stair line. Because stairwells are tall, panels are easier to hang with two people and a stable platform.
Wrapping around a corner
If you want one design to continue around a corner onto a second wall, add both widths together and use the taller of the two heights. Because corners are rarely perfectly straight, it helps to plan where the corner will fall in the design – contact us with both measurements and we'll help you plan it.
Very wide walls
Large walls are no problem: your mural is printed in panels about 100 cm (40 in) wide, so even a 6-metre wall arrives as manageable pieces that line up edge to edge.
Quick reference
- Always order the full rectangle: widest width × tallest height.
- Add about 5 cm (2 in) to both measurements.
- Never subtract windows, doors or sockets.
- Sloped walls and stairways: measure at the tallest point and trim on the wall.
- Unsure about colour or texture? Order a sample first.
Ready? Browse our latest wall murals or peel and stick wallpaper. Every design is printed to your exact size, with free shipping to the UK, Europe, USA and Canada.