Wall Panelling Calculator

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

Panel schedule

WallWall widthPanelsPanel widthsPanel heightEnd revealBetween

Cut list and material

Shopping list

Quantities are estimates.

Cost estimate

ItemQtyPrice eachTotal
Materials total

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

Install tips
  1. Sizes are outside of the moulding. Cut each piece to the long point, 45° mitres, four per panel.
  2. Measure clear wall. On door walls, measure from the inside corner to the edge of the architrave.
  3. Mark the verticals floor to ceiling first. Aligned upper panels share the same lines, so mark them once per wall.
  4. Fit the upper panels before the lower ones. Any error gets absorbed at the skirting.
  5. Level each row of panels with a laser. Don't measure off the floor or ceiling.
  6. Fix with grab adhesive and 18 ga pins. On masonry walls the adhesive does the work; pin into studs on stud walls.
  7. 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 high should a dado rail be?

A common rule is about one third of the ceiling height, so around 800 mm under a 2.4 m ceiling. Go higher under tall ceilings, and keep the rail clear of window sills where you can.

How do I space wall panels evenly?

Start with the clear wall width. Subtract a margin at each end and an equal gap between panels, then divide what's left by the number of panels. The calculator does this for every wall and rounds each size to the nearest millimetre.

What size should wall panels be?

Most layouts keep 75 to 100 mm margins and the same gap between panels. On a long wall, an odd number of panels with a wider centre panel gives the wall a focal point. Use Center × to set how much wider it is.

How much moulding do I need?

Each panel takes four mitred pieces. The cut list totals the metres for every wall and adds 15% for mitre waste, plus dado rail and skirting board counted in 2.4 m lengths.

Can I panel above the dado rail?

Yes. Tick Upper panels on a wall. Aligned with lower repeats the lower panel widths so the verticals line up floor to ceiling. Single panel and Wide center are the other options.

Can I work in inches?

Yes. Set Units to Inches in the room settings. The calculator remembers your choice in this browser.