Board and Batten Calculator

Enter your ceiling height and wall widths. Batten spacing, drawings and a cut list update as you type.

Panel schedule

WallWall widthPanelsPanel widthsPanel heightEnd revealBetween

Cut list and material

Install tips
  1. Smooth the wall first. Texture shows between the battens, so skim coat it or cover it with thin MDF panels.
  2. Find and mark the studs. Nail battens into framing where you can, with construction adhesive behind them.
  3. Hang the baseboard and top rail first, then the cap. The battens fit between them.
  4. Mark batten centers from one end. Use the on-center spacing for each wall.
  5. Plumb each batten with a level. Don't trust the corners.
  6. Measure each bay before cutting horizontal battens. Walls vary, so cut them to fit.
  7. Caulk every joint, fill the nail holes, and paint it all one color.

Common questions

How far apart should board and batten be?

Most layouts space battens 12 to 24" apart. Closer spacing looks more detailed; wider spacing suits large, plain walls. Enter a target and the planner picks the nearest spacing that divides the wall evenly, with a batten at each end.

How do I space battens evenly?

Subtract one batten width from the wall width, divide by the target space plus one batten width, and round to a whole number of bays. Then divide the wall width minus all the battens by that number of bays for the exact space. The planner does this for every wall.

How high should board and batten go?

Half-height board and batten usually stops between a third and two thirds of the way up the wall, finished with a top rail and a cap. Full height runs to the crown or ceiling. Pick either per wall under Height. Cap top sets the height, and a cap height of 0 leaves the cap off.

What size boards do I need?

Battens are commonly 1x2, 1x3 or 1x4 boards, and the top rail is often a 1x4 or 1x6. A 1x3 is 2 1/2" wide and a 1x4 is 3 1/2". Enter the actual widths, not the nominal sizes.

What does Grid do?

Grid adds horizontal battens between the verticals, splitting the wall into 2 to 4 rows of equal height. The cut list includes the short horizontal pieces.

How much trim do I need?

The cut list totals the linear feet of battens and top rail for every wall and counts 8 ft sticks with 10% extra for waste, plus cap and baseboard.