Board & Batten Spacing Calculator.
Turn a wall width, actual batten width and number of spaces into an equal layout you can mark directly on the wall.
Set the layout
Choose how many equal open spaces you want across the wall.
Measure the installed face width, not the nominal board size.
Turn this off when the layout starts and ends with an open space instead.
Equal spacing
Enter the wall width, batten width and number of spaces to calculate the layout.
The calculator uses the actual batten face width you enter and does not assume a nominal lumber size or preferred panel spacing.
Calculate the clear space, not just the center line
Equal board-and-batten layouts depend on the installed face width of every batten. The tool subtracts the total batten width from the usable wall width, then divides the remaining width into the number of equal open spaces you request.
The result includes both the clear opening and the center-to-center step. Clear opening is useful when checking panel proportions, while the center-to-center step is convenient for repeated layout marks.
Layouts with or without edge battens
If battens sit on both wall edges, the number of battens is one greater than the number of spaces. If the wall starts and ends with open space, turning off edge battens treats those outer gaps as part of the equal spacing instead.
Frequently asked questions
How is board and batten spacing calculated?
The calculator subtracts the combined width of the battens from the usable wall width and divides the remaining width by the number of equal open spaces.
Should I use nominal or actual batten width?
Use the actual installed face width you can measure. Nominal lumber dimensions can differ from the finished width that affects the layout.
What does center-to-center spacing mean?
It is the distance from the center of one batten to the center of the next. It equals the clear gap plus one batten width.
Can I leave open space at both wall edges?
Yes. Turn off the edge-batten option. The calculator then includes the two wall-edge spaces in the equal-gap layout.