Board and Batten Calculator

Board and batten siding creates a vertical rhythm by combining wider boards with narrow battens over the joints or gaps. Accurate quantity planning begins with the wall's height and width, then accounts for the chosen board width, spacing pattern, batten size, and expected cutting waste. This calculator converts those measurements into board and batten counts, purchase quantities, face coverage, and a preliminary material budget. Board count follows the source layout convention: divide wall width in inches by board width plus spacing, round upward, and add one board to close the layout. Battens are placed at the joints between boards, so the basic batten count is one fewer than the board count. Each vertical piece is assumed to run the full wall height. Board area is calculated from count, actual board width, and wall height; batten quantity is priced by total linear length. Both purchase quantities and costs are increased by the entered waste percentage. Spacing terminology varies among siding systems. In this estimator, board spacing is the clear distance after one board before the next board begins, not a center-to-center measurement. Confirm that interpretation against the selected product and desired pattern. The displayed board and batten face area can exceed the wall area because battens overlap board edges or gaps and because waste is included. Openings for doors and windows are intentionally not subtracted; leaving them in the gross wall area often provides a practical allowance for offcuts, but large openings may warrant a separate takeoff. Prices are entered using different purchasing units: boards by square foot and battens by linear foot. Verify supplier packaging, available stock lengths, minimum order quantities, corner trim, flashing, fasteners, finish, and delivery charges before ordering. Walls that are not rectangular should be divided into simple sections and calculated separately. This result is a planning estimate rather than an installation specification. Follow the siding manufacturer's requirements for sheathing, drainage plane, flashing, expansion gaps, fastening, clearances, and approved exterior materials.