How to use the baseboard calculator
- Choose metric or imperial. Switching keeps your values and converts them.
- Add each wall that gets baseboard, with the total width of any doorways on it.
- Enter the length of the boards you can buy and a cutting allowance.
- Optionally add a price per board, then print the cutting plan to take to the saw.
How the estimate is worked out
- Run = wall length − doorways, for each wall.
- A run longer than one board uses whole boards joined end to end, plus one shorter piece for the rest.
- Each shorter piece gets the cutting allowance added.
- Shorter pieces are fitted into boards from longest to shortest, using up offcuts before starting a new board (first-fit decreasing).
Worked example
A room has walls of 4.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 3.5 m with a 0.8 m doorway in the first wall. Skirting comes in 2.4 m lengths, with a 5 cm cutting allowance.
- Runs: 3.2, 3.5, 4.0 and 3.5 m, a total of 14.2 m. 14.2 ÷ 2.4 = 5.92, so at least 6 boards.
- Each wall takes one whole 2.4 m board plus a shorter piece: 0.85, 1.15, 1.65 and 1.15 m (with allowance).
- The shorter pieces fit into 3 boards: 1.65 m; 1.15 + 1.15 m; 0.85 m.
- In total you would buy 7 boards.
Choose Try an example above (with metric selected) to load these numbers.
Assumptions and limitations
- Walls are measured as straight runs along the floor. Bay windows, chimney breasts and returns should be added as extra walls.
- A doorway part-way along a wall splits it into two pieces; the plan treats the wall’s remaining run as one length.
- Joins are only placed where a wall is longer than one board.
- Profiles, heights and finishes are not taken into account. Fixings, adhesive, filler and caulk are not included.
Frequently asked questions
Is baseboard the same as skirting board?
Yes. “Baseboard” is the usual term in the US and Canada, and “skirting board” or “skirting” in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Both are the trim that runs along the bottom of a wall where it meets the floor.
What lengths does baseboard come in?
It depends on the product and the country. MDF skirting in the UK is often sold in 2.4 m or 4.2 m lengths, while US baseboard commonly comes in 8, 12 and 16 ft lengths. Longer boards mean fewer joins on long walls. Enter the length you can buy.
Why buy more than the total length divided by the board length?
Because each wall needs a piece of a particular length, and the offcut from one board is often too short for the next wall. The cutting plan fits the pieces into boards and shows what is left over. The simple division is shown for comparison.
What is the cutting allowance for?
Cutting mitres at corners, squaring a damaged end and the width of the saw cut all use a little extra length. 5 cm (2 in) per piece is a reasonable allowance. Increase it if you are new to mitre cuts.
Should I measure doorways with the frame?
Measure the gap the baseboard will stop at. That is usually the doorway plus the door casing or architrave on each side, because the baseboard butts up against the casing.
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