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Shiplap Coverage Calculator Guide: Face Width, Linear Feet and Boards to Buy
How to turn a wall into shiplap boards: use the exposed face (not overall width), convert square feet to linear feet, and buy from supplier-stated lengths.
Quick answer
Shiplap coverage uses the exposed face width, not the board's overall width, because the lap hides under the next board. Rows equal the wall height divided by the face, rounded up. Linear feet equal rows times the wall width, divided by 12. Add a waste allowance, then divide by the board length. Linear feet per 100 sq ft is 1,200 ÷ face: a 5" face needs 240 LF per 100 sq ft, matching what Shiplap Direct and Tiny Timbers state for their 1×6 boards.
Formula
rows = ceil(across ÷ face) | LF = rows × run ÷ 12 | boards = ceil(LF × (1 + waste) ÷ board length) | LF/100 sq ft = 1200 ÷ face
Accuracy
Reference table
Search by name or sort by any column. Each row links to the matching calculator.
5 of 5 rows · sorted by board
| Calculator | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiplap Direct 1×6 | 5" | Not stated | 16 ft | 240 (maker: 240) | Shiplap calculator |
| Shiplap Direct 1×8 | 6.75" | Not stated | 16 ft | 177.8 (maker: 180) | Shiplap calculator |
| Tiny Timbers 1×6 | 5" | 5.38" | 16 ft | 240 (maker: 240) | Shiplap calculator |
| UFP-Edge Timeless 1×6 | 4.63" | 5.25" | 8, 16 ft | 259.2 | Shiplap calculator |
| UFP-Edge Timeless 1×8 | 6.44" | 7.06" | 8, 16 ft | 186.3 | Shiplap calculator |
How it works
Use the exposed face, not the overall board width
Each shiplap board overlaps the next, so the width it adds to the wall is the exposed face. A UFP-Edge Timeless 1×6 is 5.25" overall but covers 4.63"; a Shiplap Direct primed 1×6 states a 5" exposure. If you buy from overall width you will run short. The calculator and the table on this page use each supplier's stated face, with a link back to the product page.
Rows, linear feet and boards to buy
For horizontal boards, rows = ceiling height ÷ face, rounded up. The last row is usually ripped to whatever is left; if that strip is very thin, rip the first and last rows to the same width instead. Linear feet = rows × wall width ÷ 12. Multiply by (1 + waste), then divide by the board length and round up. Vertical boards swap width and height for the 'across' and 'run' directions but use the same arithmetic. Subtract doors and windows as area before converting to linear feet.
Why suppliers quote linear feet per 100 square feet
Linear feet per 100 sq ft equals 1,200 ÷ face in inches. That lets a yard quote one number per profile. Shiplap Direct states 240 LF per 100 sq ft for its 5"-face 1×6 and 180 for its 6.75"-face 1×8; Tiny Timbers states 240 for its 5"-face 1×6 and 6.672 sq ft per 16 ft board. The calculator's coverage figure is the same formula, so you can compare a custom face with a named board.
Work it out
Change the inputs to work out your own numbers. Each step of the working is shown with the answer.
Your measurements
Measure the wall and pick the boards. Everything updates as you type; the drawing shows every row.
Wall
Corner to corner. Measure at the top and bottom and use the larger figure, so you do not run short.
Common widths
Floor to ceiling, or to the top of the area you are covering.
Common heights
Boards
Exposed face and lengths as each supplier states them. Choose My own board for anything else.
Shiplap Direct 1×6 is sold in 16 ft lengths.
Openings and waste
Width × height of each opening you will not cover. A 36 × 80 inch door is 20 sq ft. Leave at 0 for a plain wall.
10% is a common allowance for end cuts and staggered joints, not a rule. Allow more for many openings or a herringbone-style layout.
Results
Boards to buy
× 16 ft
= Shiplap Direct 1×6
220 linear ft including 10% extra, to cover 83.3 sq ft (7.74 m²).
- Rows
- 20
- All full width
- Before waste
- 200 linear ft
- 1 board end to end per row
- Coverage
- 240ft per 100 sq ft
- 6.667 sq ft per board
How this was calculated
Rows, linear feet and boards, with your numbers. The face width is Shiplap Direct 1×6's stated figure.
How this was calculated
Rows, linear feet and boards, with your numbers. The face width is Shiplap Direct 1×6's stated figure.
Step 1: Number of rows
rows = wall height ÷ exposed face, rounded up
= 100" ÷ 5" = 20
= 20 rowsUse the exposed face, not the overall board width: the lap is hidden under the next board. The last row is 5" wide.
Step 2: Linear feet of board
rows × length of each ÷ 12
= 20 × 120" ÷ 12
= 200 linear ftThe ripped row counts as a full row, because it is cut from full boards.
Step 3: Add the waste allowance
linear feet × (1 + waste)
= 200 × 1.1
= 220 linear ftExtra for end trims, staggered joints, miscuts and the odd bad board. The percentage is your choice.
Step 4: Boards to buy
boards = linear feet ÷ board length, rounded up
= 220 ÷ 16 ft = 13.75
= 14 boardsEach 16 ft board covers 6.667 sq ft (5" face × 16 ft). For this face that is 240 linear ft per 100 sq ft, the figure suppliers quote.
Sources
Shiplap Direct premium primed nickel gap shiplap, 1 x 6: exposed face and lengths
Checked against sourceChecked against the maker's documentation. Checked 24 Oct 2026.
- Shiplap Direct: Premium primed shiplap (1x6: 5" exposure, 240 LF per 100 square feet; 16' lengths only; full 3/4" thick.), opened 24 Oct 2026
Clear radiata pine, double primed, 1/8" nickel gap, sold in 16 ft lengths only.
Troubleshooting
What usually goes wrong, how to check for it, and how to prevent it.
You run out of boards before the last rows
- Cause
- Coverage was worked from overall width, or waste was left too low
- How to check
- Bought LF is close to wall area ÷ (overall width/12) instead of face
- Prevention
- Use the exposed face from the product page, allow waste for joints and bad boards, and buy all boards in one lot
The top row is a thin, hard-to-nail strip
- Cause
- Wall height ÷ face leaves a small remainder
- How to check
- Last row under about one third of a face
- Prevention
- Rip the first and last rows to roughly the same width so neither is a sliver
Vertical boards need mid-wall joints
- Cause
- Wall height is taller than the board length you bought
- How to check
- Ceiling taller than 8, 12 or 16 ft for the stock you chose
- Prevention
- Buy longer boards when the supplier offers them, or plan joints over studs and stagger them
Common questions
How do I calculate how much shiplap I need?
Divide the wall height by the exposed face and round up for rows. Multiply rows by wall width for inches of board, divide by 12 for linear feet, add waste, then divide by board length and round up. A 10×8 ft wall with a 5" face and 16 ft boards at 10% waste needs 20 rows and 14 boards.
How many linear feet of shiplap per 100 square feet?
1,200 divided by the face in inches. A 5" face needs 240 LF per 100 sq ft; a 6.75" face needs about 178. Check the supplier's stated figure against that.
Why is the face narrower than the board?
The lap (and any nickel gap) tucks under or beside the next board, so only the face shows. Using the overall width underestimates how many boards you need.
Horizontal or vertical shiplap: which uses more wood?
The area is the same, so linear feet come out similar. Vertical boards need a joint if the wall is taller than one board, and the ripped strip falls on the width instead of the height. Run both options in the calculator before you buy.