Wainscoting Cost Calculator

Enter your ceiling height and wall widths, then your local prices. The materials list and total update as you type.

Cost estimate

ItemQtyPrice eachTotal
Materials total

Prices are rough starting points. Enter what your store charges.

Panel schedule

WallWall widthPanelsPanel widthsPanel heightEnd revealBetween

Cut list and material

Shopping list

Quantities are estimates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Install tips
  1. Sizes are outside of the molding. Cut each piece to the long point, 45° miters, four per panel.
  2. Measure clear wall. On door walls, measure from the inside corner to the edge of the casing.
  3. Strike verticals floor to ceiling first. Aligned upper panels share the same lines, so mark them once per wall.
  4. Hang uppers before lowers. Any error gets absorbed at the baseboard.
  5. Level each row of panels with a laser. Don't measure off the floor or ceiling.
  6. Fasten into framing. Chair rail and base into studs; panel molding with 1¼" 18 ga brads and adhesive.
  7. Back-prime, then caulk and paint as one surface.

Video tutorials

WainscotingPicture frame molding, ToolBox Divas
Board and battenFull wall install, Fix This Build That
ShiplapPlywood plank method, Jenna Sue

Common questions

How much does wainscoting cost?

It depends on your walls and your local prices, so the calculator works it out instead of guessing. It counts the panel molding, chair rail, baseboard, paint and supplies your walls need, then totals them at the prices you enter. Hiring a carpenter adds labor, which varies a lot by region, so get local quotes for that part.

How much molding do I need?

Each box takes two rails and two stiles, all mitered. The cut list totals the linear feet for every wall and adds 15% for miter waste, plus chair rail and baseboard counted in 8 ft sticks.

Does the total include tools?

No. Tools are in the shopping list but left out of the total, since many people already own or can borrow them.

Where do the prices come from?

The starting prices are rough. Enter what your store charges and the calculator remembers them in this browser, so every design you open uses them.

How can I lower the cost?

Use primed MDF or finger-jointed pine instead of solid wood, use fewer boxes on long walls, and paint with what you already have where the color allows. Molding is usually the largest share of the materials total.

Can I price shiplap or board and batten?

Yes. Set a wall's Style to Shiplap or Board and batten and the cost estimate adds boards or battens. The shiplap calculator and board and batten calculator start with those styles.