WALL PANELS · 6 MIN READ
Wall panel spacing: calculate equal gaps between battens
A clean batten layout starts with consistent clear gaps and actual board dimensions. This tool draws the walls you assign to panels, with top and bottom rails and vertical battens split around positioned doors and windows.
Choose the wall and the finished height
Select a wall in the preview or surface buttons, then turn on Add lower wall panels. Repeat for any other walls you want to panel. Enter the total panel height, including top and bottom rails. The tool assumes rails and vertical battens have the same face width.
Use actual finished board width, not a nominal lumber label. Position doors and windows in that wall’s opening editor. The 2D elevation and 3D view use those same positions. Outlets, furniture and other obstructions must still be checked separately.
Set a maximum clear gap
The clear gap is the empty space between neighboring battens. The planner finds a whole number of equal spaces so the resulting clear spacing does not exceed the maximum you entered. It places a batten at both ends of the wall.
If W is wall width, B is batten width and G is the maximum gap, the number of spaces is rounded up from (W − B) ÷ (G + B). There is one more batten than there are spaces. The final gap is (W − number of battens × B) ÷ number of spaces.
Worked example: a 16 ft wall
A 192 in wall, 2.5 in battens and a 16 in maximum gap produces 11 spaces and 12 battens. The actual equal gap is (192 − 12 × 2.5) ÷ 11, or about 14.73 in.
Turn the layout into stock-board quantities
Vertical battens fit between the rails. Their cut length is the total panel height minus twice the rail width. Opening edges split the rails and battens into rectangular pieces. Stock estimates include a fixed 1/8 in cut allowance; partial-width pieces conservatively consume full-width stock.
The planner allocates the longest pieces first into stock lengths and reuses remaining lengths when a piece and saw allowance fit. Long horizontal rails may need joints. This is a conservative stock estimate, not an optimized installation cut list.
Worked example: 4 ft high panels
With 2.5 in rails, verticals are 43 in long. Two vertical pieces, including the saw allowance, fit in an 8 ft board. Twelve battens require 6 vertical stock boards. Two 16 ft rails require 4 more 8 ft boards. Add 10% spare stock to the 10-board base: 11 boards.
Confirm fixing and finishing separately
This is a decorative layout, not a structural design. It does not specify wall fixings, concealed services, material suitability or installation details. Follow the actual product’s instructions and obtain help where necessary.
Paint, adhesive, fasteners, backing material and surface preparation are excluded from board cost. Add an installation quote as a flat labor total and save the plan with the exact stock length and board price you intend to use.
Written for Roomplanza to explain this website’s planning and calculation methods. Numerical prices and allowances are illustrative. Verify product specifications with your supplier. Read our methodology and limitations.