Single Roll vs. Double Roll

Oftentimes, when it comes to ordering wallpaper in the US or Canada, many individuals get confused because of the single vs. double roll issue. To cut down on the confusion regarding this matter, we will try to explain how the wallcovering industry ships their product:

In North America, wallpaper manufacturers print their paper in two primary widths, 21” wide and 27” wide.

• A single roll of 21” wallpaper is approximately 16.5’ long.
• A single roll of 27” wallpaper is approximately 13.5’ long.
• Some manufacturers may vary slightly but not very much, if any.
• Wallpaper manufacturers only package wallpaper in double rolls, never single rolls. A double roll is twice as long as one single roll.
• A double roll of 21” wallpaper is 33’ long.
• While a double roll of 27” wallpaper is 27’ long.
• Each one is twice as long as a single roll.
• The reason for that is to aid you in getting better coverage from your wallpaper.
• A single roll of 21” or 27” wallpaper would only yield one 8 or 9 foot drop.
• A double roll of 21” or 27” wallpaper will yield three eight or nine foot drops and sometimes you can get four from a double roll of 21” wallpaper.

So, if you order 6 single rolls of any domestic wallpaper, you will receive three bundles of paper but it will be twice as long as shown in the book and it will be a double roll. Please don’t be surprised when you open your package, just read the label and you will see that each bundle is twice as long as a single roll.

We sincerely hope that this explanation gives you some insight into how wallpaper is calculated and shipped to customers. If, however, you still have questions about the process, please give us a call. Additionally, if you read the back of any wallpaper book, you will see the explanation of the single vs. double roll described very similar to the explanation above.