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How do you calculate cost per metre of material?
Price per meter × meters needed, or total cost divided by meters: fabric, cables, wood, rope.
Quick answer
Total cost = metres × price per metre. 12 m of cable at €8.50/m: 12 × 8.50 = €102. Reverse mode: price per metre = total cost ÷ metres — €102 for 12 m = €8.50/m.
Total cost
02.00
Works for any material sold by the meter or m²: fabric, cables, wood, rope, film, pipes. For m², enter square meters instead of meters.
How it works
| Roll width | If it costs 10 per running metre | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 0.9 m | 11.11 per m² | ÷ 0.90 |
| 1 m | 10.00 per m² | ÷ 1.00 |
| 1.1 m | 9.09 per m² | ÷ 1.10 |
| 1.2 m | 8.33 per m² | ÷ 1.20 |
| 1.4 m | 7.14 per m² | ÷ 1.40 |
| 1.5 m | 6.67 per m² | ÷ 1.50 |
| 1.6 m | 6.25 per m² | ÷ 1.60 |
| 2 m | 5.00 per m² | ÷ 2.00 |
| 3 m | 3.33 per m² | ÷ 3.00 |
| 4 m | 2.50 per m² | ÷ 4.00 |
Two prices that sound the same are not: a running metre is a length off a roll, a square metre is an area — and the bridge between them is the roll width. Fabric, carpet, film and membrane are almost always priced by the running metre, then used by the area, which is where the comparison goes wrong: at 10 per running metre a 1.5 m wide roll works out at 6.67 per m², while a 0.9 m roll at the same 10 is really 11.11 — 67% more expensive for the same material. Divide by the width and the two quotes become comparable. The other direction works the same way: price per m² × width = price per running metre.
Use it for any linear material: fabric, rope, timber, cable, piping, skirting, LED strip. For goods sold by area (tiles, carpet, laminate), enter m² if that is how the shop quotes — same formula, different unit. Always compare suppliers as €/m (or €/m²): total roll price ÷ length in the roll.
Add 5–10% waste for cables and pipes (bends, junctions, mistakes); fabric patterns and matching can need more. Electricians often round up to whole reels. Measure the real route, not the straight line on a plan. A cheap tape measure beats guessing twice.
The price per metre is rarely one price. Cut lengths off a roll almost always cost more per metre than the full reel or bolt, and many suppliers add a cutting charge on top — so past a certain length the whole roll is cheaper than the piece you asked for, and it is worth finding where that crossover sits before ordering. For cable there is a second trap: the price climbs steeply with cross-section, so comparing euros per metre between two gauges tells you nothing. Compare only within the same specification, and work out the real route with its bends before deciding which side of the crossover you are on.
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Frequently asked questions
Fabric — width vs linear metre?+
Shops sell fabric per linear metre at a fixed roll width (often 140–150 cm). You pay for length, not area. Check width before buying — a "metre" of narrow ribbon differs from upholstery fabric.
Should I add waste for cables and pipes?+
Add 5–10% for bends, connections and mistakes. Electricians often round up to whole reel lengths. Measure the actual route, not straight-line distance on a plan.
Compare two suppliers with different roll lengths?+
Convert both to price per metre: total roll price ÷ metres in roll. A €48 roll of 6 m (€8/m) beats €55 for 8 m (€6.875/m) only if you need all 8 m — otherwise buy the cheaper €/m and accept leftover, or the shorter roll if leftovers are useless.
Cost per metre vs cost per kg for timber?+
Timber is sold both ways. Convert using cross-section: a 47×100 mm board at €X/m has a known volume per metre — compare like sections when shopping.
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