Board and Batten calculator
Openings
Trims and extras
Stock length and waste
Furring strips
Fasteners
Material list
Boards needed: -
Battens needed: -
Actual gap: -
Total board length: -
Total batten length: -
Fasteners needed: -
Furring strips needed: -
Nearest alternate layout
| Option | Boards | Battens | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout A | - | - | - |
| Layout B | - | - | - |
Boards needed is rounded to full stock boards. Battens needed is always one more.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides approximate board, batten, trim, and fastener quantities based solely on the dimensions and values entered. Results are for planning and visualization only and may not account for structural requirements, installation practices, material defects, wall irregularities, or manufacturer specifications. Final measurements, material counts, fastening methods, and layout decisions must be confirmed on-site and reviewed by a qualified contractor or installer. Always verify compliance with local building codes and product guidelines before purchasing or installing materials.
What is a Board & Batten Calculator?
This tool figures out every major material you need for a board‑and‑batten wall:
- Number of boards & battens ‑ rounded to whole stock pieces.
- Actual visible gap between battens.
- Total board length and batten length in your chosen unit.
- Optional extras: fasteners, trims, corner boards, furring strips, and waste allowance.
- An “alternate layout” table that shows the nearest wider and narrower gap options so you can tweak the look.
Quick steps
- Wall Width & Height
Enter the finished face size of the wall, then pick the unit (ft, in, cm, m, or yd). - Board Width & Batten Width
Nominal face width of each board and batten. Choose their units independently. - Batten overlaps boards?
Leave checked for the traditional style (battens sit on top of board edges). Un‑check for “board–gap–batten–gap” layouts where battens do not overlap. - Choose a method
- I know my desired gap – type the gap and the calculator finds the board count.
- I know how many battens – type the batten count and the tool back‑calculates the gap.
- (Optional) Click “Advanced calculations” to reveal:
- Openings – number and size of doors & windows to subtract from wall area.
- Trims and extras – starter, cap, corner boards, trim around openings.
- Stock length & waste – pick a standard length or choose “Custom …” and enter any length + unit. Add a waste allowance in % to cover off‑cuts and mistakes.
- Furring strips – spacing and unit; the tool returns piece count and total length.
- Fasteners per board – multiplies automatically.
Leave any advanced box blank if it does not apply.
- Press Calculate. Results appear in the blue box; alternate layouts list one board fewer and one board more so you can compare gaps instantly.
- Hit Reset to clear everything and start fresh.
- For exterior projects that continue into roof edges or eaves, the soffit calculator helps you plan matching soffit coverage alongside your board and batten layout.
Key benefits
- Accurate counts for lumber, battens, trims, furring strips, and fasteners.
- Works in any unit — mix & match metric or imperial inputs.
- Handles doors, windows, starter boards, cap boards, and waste in one pass.
- Alternate gap suggestions help you pick the best‑looking layout without trial‑and‑error.
- If your board and batten wall includes a solid backing layer, you can use our plywood calculator to estimate the number of plywood sheets needed before installing boards and battens.