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Board and Batten Calculator

Net wall area subtracts openings. Boards ceil across wall length with waste. Battens sketch as boards minus one. Estimate only, not a permit, code check, or engineered design.

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Results

How to estimate board and batten

  1. Enter wall length and height in one unit.
  2. Enter board width and batten width in that same unit.
  3. Enter openings area to subtract, and waste from 0 to 40 percent.
  4. Read net wall area, board count across the length, batten sketch, and linear feet sketches.

Board and batten takeoff

Vertical boards across wall length

Net areamax(0, length × height - openings)
Boardsceil((length / boardWidth) × (1 + waste/100))
Battensmax(0, boards - 1)
Board LF sketchboards × height × (1 + waste/100)
Batten LF sketchbattens × height × (1 + waste/100)
OmittedReveal trim details and corner boards

What this board and batten count covers

Vertical boards span the wall length. Battens sketch as one fewer than the board width count. Horizontal lap siding squares sit on siding. Drywall interiors sit on drywall.

How boards and battens are computed

net = max(0, length × height - openings). boards = ceil((length / boardWidth) × (1 + waste/100)). battens = max(0, boards - 1). Linear feet sketches multiply counts by height and waste. Units must match.

Reveal, trim, and panels

True reveal depends on how far battens cover board edges. Engineered panels with printed batten lines are a different product. Paint after install is on paint.

Use cases

A 40 by 10 elevation with 12 in boards and 3 in battens typed in feet, minus door and window area. Comparing waste levels. Not a sealed elevation drawing.

Limits

No corner post mode and no horizontal board mode. Estimate only, not a permit, code check, or engineered design. See the disclaimer.

Board and batten questions

Are openings subtracted?
Yes. Openings area comes out of length times height for net wall area.
How are battens counted?
As approximately boards minus one for vertical boards across the length.
What waste range is allowed?
0 to 40 percent.
Is orientation only vertical?
Yes. This sketch assumes vertical boards across wall length.
Where do I estimate lap siding squares?
Use the siding calculator.
Is this engineered design?
No. It is an estimate only, not a permit, code check, or engineered design.