Measure the route, not just the furniture
A straight mantel measurement does not include the ends hanging down. A staircase measurement along the rail does not include deeper loops. Sketch the intended route and split it into a main run, any swags and the finishing tails.
Use string before shopping
Place string along the exact route you want the garland to follow, then measure the string. This is particularly helpful for curves and spirals where a flat photograph can hide how much material is used. Leave the route clear while measuring and remove the string afterwards.
Turn a length into a pack count
Divide the planned length by the length of one garland and round up. If sections overlap at joins, deduct that overlap from each additional section’s useful coverage. Our planner does this calculation for you and shows the coverage left over.
Allow for the actual product
The listed length may include stems or sparse ends rather than continuous full foliage. Confirm how much of it is decorative and whether it can be joined or trimmed. Never cut a pre-lit garland unless its maker explicitly permits that operation. Measurements are a planning aid; the product instructions decide installation.
Three worked shopping examples
These are illustrative measurements, not a specification for your home. Try the matching example buttons in the length planner, then replace them with your own measurements.
A 1.5 m mantel with two 30 cm tails
For a straight run, 1.5 + 0.3 + 0.3 = 2.10 m, about 6.89 ft. Two 1.80 m garlands with a 0.10 m overlap cover 3.50 m, leaving 1.40 m more than the plan. One pack would be too short; consider another pack length if you want less spare coverage.
A 3.6 m stair route with a soft drape
Using the planner’s estimated 25% drape allowance and two 0.20 m tails gives (3.6 × 1.25) + 0.40 = 4.90 m, about 16.08 ft. Two 2.70 m sections, overlapping by 0.20 m, cover 5.20 m: 0.30 m spare. Check the exact curve with string and keep the handrail usable.
A 5 m doorway route already measured with string
Select “straight” to avoid adding the drape allowance twice, and set tails to zero if the string included them. Two 2.70 m sections with a 0.20 m overlap cover 5.20 m, leaving 0.20 m spare.
Metres, feet and the length on the label
One foot is exactly 0.3048 metres. A 6 ft length is 1.8288 m; 9 ft is 2.7432 m. The planner takes metres to two decimal places, so these become approximately 1.83 m and 2.74 m. Check the maker’s actual decorative coverage and avoid relying on a rounded conversion for a tight fit.
Spare coverage does not mean a garland can be cut. A pack count also says nothing about whether lighting sections may be electrically linked. Follow the product’s instructions for both. Examples added 26 October 2026; retailer specifications elsewhere retain their own check dates.