If you need height of panels (h) and width of the panels (w) and you already have baseboard depth (b), bottom rail margin (br), depth of cap moulding (c), chair rail height (h), end margin (e), number of panels, spacing of panels (s), top rail margin (t) and wall length (l), this calculator does the substitution for you. It suits a quick check, a homework answer you want to confirm, or any figure you need to sanity test.
What Is the Wainscoting Calculator?
The wainscoting calculator turns baseboard depth (b), bottom rail margin (br), depth of cap moulding (c), chair rail height (h), end margin (e), number of panels, spacing of panels (s), top rail margin (t) and wall length (l) into height of panels (h) and width of the panels (w), so you can order the right amount of material the first time.
Material estimates are where projects go over budget. Getting the quantities right before the delivery arrives is worth more than any discount on the order.
How to Measure for the Wainscoting
Measure everything in the same unit and take the largest dimension you can reasonably use rather than the average. Formwork, ground conditions and cutting waste all push the real figure above the theoretical one.
Where a plan calls for a specific thickness, check it against local building regulations before you order. The calculator reflects the relationship, not the code.
Allowing for Waste and Errors
Order a little more than the calculation suggests. The gap between the theoretical quantity and what actually arrives on site is normally waste, spillage, over-excavation and uneven grading, and all of it comes out of the same budget.
Write the figures down and compare them with what you actually used on site. That is how you build an estimate you can trust for the next job.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with baseboard depth (b) set to 10, bottom rail margin (br) set to 5, depth of cap moulding (c) set to 2, the calculator returns height of panels (h) of -17, and height of panels (h) (frame height recessed panel) of -12, and width of the panels (w) of -4.4. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out height of panels (h)?
Enter baseboard depth (b), bottom rail margin (br), depth of cap moulding (c), chair rail height (h), end margin (e), number of panels, spacing of panels (s), top rail margin (t) and wall length (l). The calculator then works through the relationship and reports height of panels (h) and width of the panels (w).
What does the wainscoting actually calculate?
It takes baseboard depth (b), bottom rail margin (br), depth of cap moulding (c), chair rail height (h), end margin (e), number of panels, spacing of panels (s), top rail margin (t) and wall length (l) and converts them into height of panels (h) and width of the panels (w) using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter baseboard depth (b)?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.