How Much Timber Cladding Do I Need?

Measuring your cladding correctly before you order can save time, money and wasted materials. This simple guide walks you through exactly how to calculate the amount of cladding boards required for your project.

Tip: Different cladding profiles have different visible face widths due to overlaps, so you’ll need to adjust your calculations depending on the board style you choose.

Step 1 – Measure the Total Area to be Clad

Start by measuring the width and height of each wall you plan to clad.

Multiply these two measurements together to get the wall area in square metres.

Formula:
Width (m) × Height (m) = Area (m²)

If you’re cladding multiple walls, calculate each section individually and then add them together.

Example:
6m × 10m = 60m² total area

Step 2 – Convert Area Into Linear Metres of Boards

Next, you’ll work out how many linear metres of cladding boards are required.

Timber cladding boards overlap when fitted, which means the full board width is not the same as the visible cover width. You must use the effective cover width for accurate results.

Example using Shiplap Boards:

  • Full board width: 150mm

  • Overlap: 11mm

  • Effective cover width: 139mm (0.139m)

Formula:
Total area (m²) ÷ Effective board width (m)

Worked example:
60m² ÷ 0.139m = 431.65 linear metres

If you are using a different board profile, simply substitute the correct cover width.

Step 3 – Calculate How Many Boards You Need

Now convert the total linear metres into the number of boards.

Formula:
Linear metres ÷ Board length (m)

Once you have this figure, we strongly recommend adding 10% extra to cover cutting, mistakes and natural timber variation.

Example using 3.0m boards:

  • 431.65 ÷ 3.0m = 143.88 boards

  • Add 10% wastage: 143.88 × 1.1 = 158 boards (rounded up)

✅ Final requirement: 158 boards at 3.0m length

Want a Faster, Easier Calculation?

If you’d rather speak to a real person, our team at Trade Warehouse are happy to help you get it right.

📞 Call us on 0208 037 6020
💬 Message us via live chat for quick advice
Email us: info@tradewarehouse.co.uk

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