Set the details, then see them on your wall.
Tap a section to edit your wall, then Back to wall to see your changes.
Ready for the next step
Check the layout, then use these measurements on your wall.
| Piece | Qty | Cut length | Face width |
|---|
Using your measurements
Start with your wall, then compare layouts before committing to a strip count or cutting any material.
Enter the wall width and height in inches or centimetres. Choose full-height paneling or enter a lower paneling height. Use the actual face width of the vertical strips and face height of the horizontal rails, rather than the nominal size on a lumber label.
In Fixtures, add windows, outlets and switches. Drag them into place, then enter their measured positions. Measure to the outside of the window casing or cover plate: its left edge from the wall’s left edge and its bottom edge from the finished floor. Set any extra clearance you want around it.
Enter your preferred clear gap, the open space between strip edges. Compare the suggested strip counts and actual gaps in Choose your layout. If an arrangement clashes with a fixture, try another suggestion or adjust the layout. A preferred gap is a target, not a guarantee that the wall will divide into that exact spacing.
Use Layout to adjust individual strips and horizontal rails. If you have a window, choose how vertical strips and horizontal rails should behave around it in Fixtures. Check the diagram and resolve marked clashes before using the cutting list.
Open Your installation plan for placement measurements and finished cut lengths. Save project opens options to save in this browser, download a project file or reopen a saved wall; Print plan creates a readable diagram and measurement sheet. Check the proposed positions and trim junctions against the actual wall before cutting.
For the calculations, testing and limitations behind the plan, see how the calculator works.
Understanding the spacing
The calculator measures the clear gap between strip edges. That is different from the distance between their centers.
For an equal layout with a batten at each edge of the wall, subtract the combined face widths of all the battens from the wall width. Divide the remaining width by the number of gaps, which is one less than the number of battens.
(Wall width − total batten width) ÷ number of gaps
Using six battens, each 3.5 inches wide, leaves five gaps:
In this example, neighboring batten centers are 28.1 inches apart: the 24.6-inch gap plus one 3.5-inch batten width. Use the placement measurements to mark the left edges of the strips; do not substitute the clear gap for the distance between those marks.
The preferred clear gap helps you choose a strip count. The wall still needs to fit a whole number of strips, so its actual equal gap may be slightly wider or narrower. Adding another strip changes both the width occupied by wood and the number of gaps.
This formula describes equal spacing only. An unequal suggestion or an individually adjusted layout can have different gaps across the wall. Use the gaps and placement measurements shown for that arrangement. The example explains the calculation; it is not a recommended spacing for every room.
Working around fixtures
An evenly spaced layout can still put a strip across a fixture. Check the positions before choosing the arrangement.
Add each fixture separately, including its outside width and height. For a window, use the outside of its casing rather than the glass opening. For an outlet or switch, use the cover-plate edges. The extra clearance setting expands the area checked in keep-clear modes; it is a planning buffer, not an electrical-code measurement.
Once you add a window, Fixtures shows separate choices for vertical strips and horizontal rails. These settings apply to all windows on the wall.
Outlets and switches remain clash checks; the calculator does not split trim around them. Compare another strip count, try an unequal-gap suggestion when available, or adjust individual pieces. Suggested layouts depend on the fixtures and measurements you entered, and some arrangements have no workable suggestion.
A clear result means no modeled trim overlaps the marked fixtures under your selected settings. It does not check casing depth, electrical-box depth, attachment suitability or fixtures you have not added. Check the actual wall and trim before cutting or installing.
From layout to measurements
Placement measurements tell you where pieces go. The cutting list tells you their finished lengths.
Vertical strip positions are measured to their left edges from the wall’s left edge. Rail positions use their bottom edges above the finished floor. Mark the proposed layout on the wall and check its fit before cutting.
A window or extra rail can divide one vertical position into several pieces. The cutting list reflects the pieces created by your layout and window settings.
Total trim adds the finished piece lengths. It does not optimize cuts into purchasable boards or include saw kerf, defects and waste. Check stock lengths and each trim profile separately. The list covers trim only; backing panels, adhesive, fasteners, caulk and paint are not included. Existing baseboards, casing depth and shaped end cuts also need checking against the actual wall.
Before using your plan
No. It plans decorative interior strips and horizontal rails on one rectangular wall. It does not calculate siding boards, weatherproofing or structural requirements.
Possibly, but check how the battens meet their upper edge. The calculator includes its own bottom rail; it does not automatically substitute your baseboard or model the depth of that junction. Check cut lengths against the detail you choose.
Equal division can produce fractional lengths. Calculations use unrounded values, while displayed measurements are rounded. Check the layout on the wall using the precision your measuring and cutting tools support.