Wall Paneling Calculator
Figure materials for a shiplap or tongue-and-groove wall, a board-and-batten wall, or wainscoting.
How it's calculated
Shiplap and T&G are sold by the lineal foot, but they cover less than their nominal width because of the overlap. The calculator uses the exposed face: about 5-1/8" for a 1×6. Lineal feet are the wall area times 12, divided by the exposed face.
Board and batten uses 4×8 panels plus vertical battens at your spacing. Wainscoting uses 4×8 beadboard laid horizontally, which covers 8 lineal feet up to 48" tall, plus cap and base.
Worked example
A 14 × 8 ft accent wall in 1×6 shiplap: 112 sq ft × 12 ÷ 5.125 = 262 lf, plus 10% = 288 lf, or 37 boards of 8 ft.
Field notes
- Start shiplap at the floor with a level line. Ceilings and floors are rarely level.
- Paint or prime the board edges before hanging so gaps do not show raw wood.
- Mark stud lines on the floor and ceiling before you cover them.
- Add 15% waste on walls with windows and lots of cuts.
Common questions
- How much shiplap do I need for a wall?
- Multiply the wall area by 12 and divide by the exposed face width. For 1×6 shiplap, that is about 2.34 lf per sq ft, before waste.
- What size is 1×6 shiplap really?
- It is about 5-1/2" wide, with about 5-1/8" exposed once the laps overlap.
- How tall should wainscoting be?
- Typically 32–42". About one third of the wall height looks balanced.