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Board & Batten Calculator

Even gaps, both ends matched — no almost-right walls.

Board and batten walls live or die on even spacing, and the math is one equation: n battens plus (n−1) gaps equals the wall width. This calculator solves it exactly — battens at both ends, every gap identical to the hundredth of an inch — so the last bay matches the first instead of being visibly off.

Why people use this

DIY accent-wall builders use this because uneven end bays are the tell of amateur work — the math is one equation but nobody wants to solve it on a ladder. Interior designers use it to spec layouts contractors can't mess up.

How it works

1. Measure the wall width in inches (a 10-ft wall is 120).
2. Enter your batten width (a 1×3 is 2.5" actual; a 1×4 is 3.5").
3. Enter your target gap — 12–18 inches is the usual accent-wall range.
4. Read the batten count and the exact even gap, then lay out with a story stick.

Common questions

What spacing looks right for board and batten?

12–18 inches between battens suits most accent walls; exterior siding traditionally ran 16–24 inches. Lower walls and wainscot look better tighter (10–14"), tall walls wider. The calculator finds the batten count that lands closest to your target with perfectly even gaps.

Do I start from the corner or center the layout?

Corner-to-corner with battens at both ends is the standard accent-wall approach and what this calculator solves. Centering a middle batten works for walls broken by a focal point (fireplace, bed), but then you must still equalize the side bays — same equation, applied twice.

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