Our Board and Batten Layout Calculator is a specialized digital tool designed to eliminate the guesswork and complex math from planning your board and batten wall project.

It helps you achieve a professional, symmetrical look by calculating the exact spacing between your vertical battens, ensuring the gaps on both ends of your wall are even and visually pleasing.

Why a Layout Calculator is Essential?

Unlike simply spacing battens evenly from one end, which often results in an awkward, narrow gap at the opposite end, this calculator uses a precise formula to distribute the space evenly across the entire wall. This attention to detail is the hallmark of a professional-quality installation.

How to Use the Calculator

Method 1: Starting with Your Desired Spacing
Use this method if you have a specific visual gap in mind between your battens.

1. Enter Wall Width: Input the total width of your wall.
2. Enter Batten Width: Input the actual width of your batten material. Pro Tip: Always measure your boards directly. A nominal “1×3” board has an actual width of 2.5 inches, not 3 inches .
3. Enter Approximate Spacing: Input your ideal space between battens (a common starting point is between 12 and 20 inches).
4. Get Results.

Method 2: Starting with Your Desired Number of Battens
Use this method if you have a set number of vertical battens you want to install.

1. Enter Wall Width: Input the total width of your wall.
2. Enter Batten Width: Input the actual width of your batten material.
3. Enter Number of Battens: Input how many battens you want on the wall.
4. Get Results.

How the Calculator Works

The calculator automates a reliable layout process used by professional carpenters. Here is the logic it uses for Method 1 (starting with desired spacing) :

1. Calculate Batten & Space Unit: First, it adds your batten width to your desired spacing.
   • (Batten Width + Desired Spacing)
2. Find Usable Wall Space: It then subtracts the width of one batten from the total wall width. This accounts for the first batten on the wall.
   • (Wall Width - Batten Width)
3. Determine Number of Spaces: It divides the usable wall space by the “Batten & Space Unit” from step 1 and rounds this number to the nearest whole to find the number of spaces.
   • Number of Spaces = (Wall Width - Batten Width) / (Batten Width + Desired Spacing)
4. Calculate Exact Spacing: The number of spaces is then used to recalculate the perfect, even spacing.
   • Exact Spacing = [(Wall Width - Batten Width) / Number of Spaces] - Batten Width

For Method 2, the calculation is more direct :

• Exact Spacing = (Wall Width - (Number of Battens * Batten Width)) / (Number of Battens - 1)

Pro Tips for a Flawless Board and Batten Project

• Visualize with a Spacer Block: After you get your “Exact Spacing” result, cut a scrap piece of wood to that exact length. Use this as a physical spacer to quickly mark the position for each batten on the wall, ensuring perfect consistency .
• Account for Wall Imperfections: No wall is perfectly straight or plumb. Always measure and cut each vertical batten individually for its specific location, using a level during installation to ensure it is perfectly vertical, even if the wall is not .
• Plan for Obstacles: If a batten lands directly on a light switch or outlet, you can slightly adjust the spacing on either side to avoid it, or learn how to notch the batten around the obstacle .
• Corner Strategy: For a finished look, it is generally recommended to start and end each wall segment with a batten, even in the corners.