Home Improvement
Skirting Board Calculator
Enter room perimeter or sides, deduct door widths, add waste to see metres to buy.
How much skirting do I need?
Skirting board is sold in fixed pack lengths, so the useful figure is the net wall run after you subtract door openings and other gaps, then add waste for miters and awkward returns. Measure the full perimeter (or the runs you will actually skirt), deduct the combined width of doorways and built-in units, apply a waste percentage — often 5–10% — and divide by the length printed on the pack to see how many packs to buy and what they cost at your pack price. Straight runs alone understate corners: every external and internal miter nibbles a little extra from a board. Pair this with the flooring calculator when renewing floors in the same room, and check underlay coverage if you are laying sheet or laminate at the same time.
Worked example
Default 18 m perimeter minus 1.8 m of doors = 16.2 m net. With 8% waste → about 17.5 m. At 2.4 m per pack that is ceil(17.5/2.4) = 8 packs; at £9.50 each ≈ £76.
Limits and assumptions
Models straight run length only. Miters, external returns, radiator notches and raking cuts need extra. Packs may mix usable lengths — confirm the label.
Frequently asked questions
Do I measure the floor perimeter or wall runs?
Measure only where skirting will sit. Skip openings you will not board, then subtract remaining door and gap widths in the doors field.
Why is waste usually 5–10%?
Corners and short offcuts rarely join cleanly. Complex rooms or thick profiles often need closer to 10–15%.
Should pack price include adhesive and nails?
No — this estimates board packs only. Fixings and decorating caulk are separate.
What if boards come in two lengths?
Buy enough total linear metres; plan cuts so short pieces still cover door returns and short walls.