Shiplap Calculator: Boards, Linear Feet and Square Feet
Enter the wall size, pick a board and the calculator gives the rows, the linear feet and the number of boards to buy.
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.
In short
Rows = wall height ÷ exposed face, rounded up; boards = rows × wall width × (1 + waste) ÷ board length. A 10 by 8.333333333333334 ft wall in Shiplap Direct 1×6 boards (5" face, 16 ft) needs 20 rows and 14 boards with 10% extra.
It uses the exposed face width the supplier states, because the lap hides part of each board.
Shiplap coverage by board
Exposed face and lengths as each supplier states them. Linear feet per 100 sq ft is 1,200 ÷ face; where the supplier states its own figure, it is shown alongside so you can see they agree.
| Board | Exposed face | Overall width | Lengths | Ft per 100 sq ft | Supplier states | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFP-Edge Timeless 1×6 | 4.63" | 5.25" | 8, 16 ft | 259.2 | Face width only | UFP-Edge, checked 24 Oct 2026 |
| UFP-Edge Timeless 1×8 | 6.44" | 7.06" | 8, 16 ft | 186.3 | Face width only | UFP-Edge, checked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Shiplap Direct 1×6 | 5" | Not stated | 16 ft | 240 | 240 ft per 100 sq ft | Shiplap Direct, checked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Shiplap Direct 1×8 | 6.75" | Not stated | 16 ft | 177.8 | 180 ft per 100 sq ft | Shiplap Direct, checked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Tiny Timbers 1×6 | 5" | 5.38" | 16 ft | 240 | 240 ft per 100 sq ft; 6.672 sq ft per 16 ft board | Tiny Timbers, checked 24 Oct 2026 |
Worked example: 10 × 8.333333333333334 ft wall, 5" face
Horizontal Shiplap Direct 1×6 boards, 16 ft long, no openings and 10% extra.
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.
Before you buy
Step-by-step coverage math is in the shiplap coverage guide.
- Check the exposed face on the product page or measure two boards fitted together. Profiles differ, even between 1×6 boards.
- Work out the first and last rows before you start. If the last row would be a thin sliver, rip the first and last rows to the same width instead.
- Buy all the boards at once where you can, so the colour and the milling match.
Shiplap: common questions
Amount, coverage, face width and direction.
How do I calculate how much shiplap I need?
Divide the wall height by the exposed face of one board and round up to get the rows. Multiply the rows by the wall width to get the length of board, add a waste allowance, then divide by the board length and round up. For horizontal boards on a 10 by 8 ft wall with a 5 inch face, that is 20 rows, 200 linear ft, 220 ft with 10% extra and 14 boards 16 ft long.
How many linear feet of shiplap are in 100 square feet?
It depends on the exposed face: 1,200 divided by the face in inches. A 5 inch face needs 240 linear ft per 100 sq ft and a 6.75 inch face needs about 178. Shiplap Direct states 240 for its 1×6 (5 inch face) and 180 for its 1×8 (6-3/4 inch face).
Why use the exposed face and not the board width?
Part of each board is hidden under the next one by the lap, so a board covers less than its overall width. A UFP-Edge Timeless 1×6 is 5.25 inches wide but covers 4.63 inches. Using the overall width would leave you short.
Horizontal or vertical shiplap: does it change the amount?
The area is the same, so the linear feet come out close. The difference is in the rows: vertical boards stack across the wall width, and they need a joint if the wall is taller than one board. Run the calculator both ways and compare.