Space board and batten evenly around doors, windows and outlets

Enter your wall and what is on it. Get evenly spaced battens that stop at door and window trim and stay off outlets, a scale drawing with every measurement, and a cut list. Free, no sign-up, nothing uploaded.

Wall

Battens

Doors, windows, outlets

Measure to the outside of the trim or cover plate. “From left” is from the left wall corner.

  • Window
  • Outlet

9 battens · 11 cuts · 45.5 linear ft

14 11/16" gap14 11/16" gapWall 144" wide × 96" high0"17 3/16"34 5/16"51 1/2"70 3/4"90"107 3/16"124 5/16"141 1/2"Left edge of each batten, from the left corner36"56 1/2"60"

Layout looks wrong for your wall? Send feedback

Cut list

Square cuts. Check each length against the wall before cutting; floors and ceilings are rarely level.

QtyLength
2 ×54"
8 ×51"
1 ×30 1/2"

Total 45.5 linear ft. Buy at least 10 boards of 96", plus one spare for miscuts.

Batten positions

Left edge of each batten, measured from the left corner.

  • 0" to 54": 4 battens, 14 11/16" gap
  • 90" to 144": 4 battens, 14 11/16" gap
#From leftFrom floorLength
10"5 1/2"51"
217 3/16"5 1/2"51"
334 5/16"5 1/2"51"
451 1/2"5 1/2"51"
570 3/4"5 1/2"30 1/2"
690"5 1/2"51"
7107 3/16"5 1/2"51"
8124 5/16"5 1/2"51"
9141 1/2"5 1/2"51"

How the layout is worked out

  1. Doors and windows split the wall into open sections. Each section gets a batten at both ends, tight to the corner or the trim.
  2. The battens between are spaced equally, as close to your target spacing as the section allows.
  3. Short battens are added under each window and above doors and windows when the treatment is tall enough.
  4. If a batten would cover an outlet or switch plate, the batten count is changed until the plate sits in open wall. If nothing works, the plate is marked in red.

Before you cut

  • Measure the wall in two places. Walls are rarely square, so use the smaller number.
  • Measure doors and windows to the outside edge of the casing, not the opening.
  • Mark the layout on the wall with a level and painter’s tape, and step back before nailing.
  • Cut the longest pieces first so a miscut can be reused for a shorter one.

Questions

How far apart should board and batten be?
Most interior walls look right with 12 to 20 inches of open wall between battens. The exact number matters less than keeping it equal, so pick a target and let the calculator adjust it to fit your wall.
How do I space battens around a window or door?
Put a batten tight against each side of the casing, then space the rest evenly between that batten and the next corner or opening. Each stretch of wall gets its own equal spacing, so gaps can differ slightly from one section to the next. That reads as intentional; a batten cut off by a window does not.
Is the spacing measured between battens or center to center?
The spacing here is the open wall between two battens. The drawing gives the left edge of every batten from the left corner, which is the number you mark on the wall.
How do I make a grid or square board and batten wall?
Set the number of rows to 2 or more. Horizontal pieces are added between the battens and cut to the gap width. For squares, adjust the batten spacing until the gap matches the row height shown on the drawing.
What do I do when an outlet or light switch lands on the trim?
The cleanest fix is to change the number of boards or frames so the plate sits in open wall. The calculator tries this automatically. If no layout clears the plate it is flagged in red, and your options are to change the spacing, move the box, or notch the trim around the plate.
Is my layout saved or uploaded?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Print the page or save it as a PDF to keep a copy.

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