By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Board-and-batten is measured in panels: wide boards butted with a gap, covered by narrow battens. The number of boards sets the number of battens, and both are cut from the wall height, so a single wall width and height gives the full takeoff.
Boards, battens and linear feet for a board-and-batten wall.
Panels = ⌈wall width ÷ board width⌉ Battens = Panels − 1 (or one per seam) Linear feet = (Panels + Battens) × height
The panel count is rounded up, which may mean trimming the last board. Vertical battens sit over the seams, so there is one fewer batten than boards unless you also run battens at the corners.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| W, H | Wall width and height. |
| b | Board width. |
| N | Number of boards (panels). |
20 ft needs 20 boards and 19 battens, which comes to 39 × 8 = 312 linear feet of material.
Continue with the Gravel Calculator, Sand Calculator, Rock Calculator, or the River Rock Calculator — or browse more materials & quantities and all construction calculators.
Traditionally yes: boards are spaced 1–2 inches apart and the batten covers the gap. That lets the boards move with moisture.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
Estimate decking boards by length, screws, hidden fasteners and waste
Calculate concrete blocks needed for wall construction
Calculate full deck materials list including boards, joists, beams, posts, and cost estimates
Price hardwood the way the lumber yard does — by board footage.
Turn measured dimensions into the cubic yards concrete and gravel are sold in.
How many gallons it takes to cover an area at a given depth.
Content updated: September 2026