Pattern repeat and half-drop matching
Pattern repeat is the vertical distance between identical points in the design. Match type describes how adjacent strips line up. Copy both values from the manufacturer’s label.
Free match
Cut length = wall height + total top-and-bottom trim. Pattern alignment is not required.
Straight match
Round the height plus trim up to the next full repeat. At 2.4 m height, 0.1 m trim and 0.64 m repeat, the planned cut length is 2.56 m.
Half-drop: a conservative allowance
We round height plus trim up to a full repeat, then add half a repeat to every strip. The same example gives 2.88 m and 3 strips from a 10.05 m roll. This reserves an offset for each strip; alternating A/B cutting can use less paper. It is a planning allowance, not an optimized cutting plan. Quarter-drop, murals, reverse hanging and bespoke offsets are not supported.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions
Large repeats and other drop matches may need extra material. Consult your installer before ordering. See Ethan Allen’s measuring guide and Wells Interiors’ strip calculation example.