Baseboard calculator
Work out the linear feet of baseboard (skirting) for a room or a whole house, with doorways taken off and the number of pieces to buy.
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How the baseboard length is worked out
Baseboard runs around the walls, so a room needs its perimeter: twice the length plus twice the width. Doorways get no baseboard, so the width of each door (36" by default) is taken off.
A 10% allowance is added for mitred corners, scarf joints and offcuts, then the total is rounded up to whole feet or metres. If you choose a piece length, the calculator also tells you how many sticks to buy.
These are the rules vPlan AR uses for the baseboard in a plan's material takeoff, where it measures each wall face and takes off the actual doors, cased openings and windows that reach the floor.
Tips
- Longer pieces mean fewer joints: 16' sticks suit long walls, 8' pieces are easier to carry and fit in a car.
- Count cabinets and built-ins that stop the baseboard as doorways, or measure those walls short.
- Buy shoe moulding or quarter round to the same length if the floor needs it.
- Paint or stain the trim before cutting to save time on the wall.
Do this from a scan instead
Scan the room or draw it, and vPlan AR measures each wall face, takes off every door and cased opening, and lists the baseboard for every room in the plan in one takeoff.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate linear feet of baseboard?
Add up the length of every wall in the room (twice the length plus twice the width for a rectangle), take off the width of each doorway, and add about 10% for cuts and waste.
Do you subtract doorways for baseboard?
Yes. Baseboard stops at each side of a doorway, so its width comes off. The calculator uses 36" per door unless you change it.
What length of baseboard pieces should I buy?
Use the longest pieces you can transport and handle: fewer joints look better. 16' pieces suit most living rooms; 8' or 12' pieces work for small rooms and closets.
How do I measure a room for baseboard?
Measure each wall at floor level from corner to corner, including the walls inside closets if they get baseboard, and note each doorway. For a plain rectangular room, the length and width are enough: the calculator works out the perimeter. An L-shaped room has the same perimeter as the rectangle around it, so enter its overall length and width as one room rather than splitting it in two (two rectangles would count the line between them twice).
How much extra baseboard should I buy?
About 10% for corners and joints. Rooms with many short walls, such as bathrooms and closets, can need more.