Baseboard Calculator
Measure the linear feet of baseboard and trim a room needs.
What you'll need to order
- baseboard moulding
- finish nails
- wood filler
- caulk
- quarter round
Prices vary by region and haul distance. Get quotes from at least two local suppliers.
How this calculator works
linear ft = (perimeter − doorways) × 1.10
The 10% covers mitre cuts, coped inside corners and the offcuts that are always a few inches too short for the next wall. Buy the longest sticks that will fit through the door — fewer joints look better.
Switch the site to metric — the control is in the footer — and your inputs, your results and the tables below follow. The formula, the constants, the guidance text and the sources stay in US units on purpose: that is how the standards they come from are written, and restating them would detach each figure from the document you are meant to be able to check it against.
Where these numbers come from
Perimeter arithmetic plus a waste allowance. The 10% is a trade convention, not a published figure, and it is stated as such rather than dressed up as one.
Worked example
With room length 14 ft, room width 12 ft, total doorway width 6 ft, length per stick 16 ft, this calculator returns 3.16 .
Waste allowance
The headline figure includes a 10% allowance for waste and over-ordering. The exact requirement is shown alongside it.
Baseboard needed for rooms of typical size
Open any row to load it into the calculator above — the link carries the numbers with it, so it can go straight to a supplier or a crew.
| Job | Size | Sticks to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom | 10 ft × 10 ft × 3 ft × 16 ft | 2.54 |
| Main bedroom | 14 ft × 12 ft × 6 ft × 16 ft | 3.16 |
| Living room | 18 ft × 14 ft × 9 ft × 16 ft | 3.78 |
| Hallway Doorways eat most of a hallway run |
20 ft × 4 ft × 12 ft × 16 ft | 2.48 |
| Open-plan ground floor | 30 ft × 20 ft × 14 ft × 16 ft | 5.91 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure baseboard for a room?
Add up the perimeter, subtract the width of every doorway, then add 10% for mitres and offcuts. A 12 by 14 room with two 3 ft doors needs about 51 linear feet.
What length baseboard should I buy?
The longest that fits your walls in one piece and through your doorway. Sixteen-foot sticks let most rooms run wall to wall without a scarf joint, which is always visible once painted.
Should inside corners be mitred or coped?
Coped. Walls are never truly square, and a mitred inside corner opens up as the house moves. A coped joint tightens against the profile and stays closed.
Do I subtract doorways from the measurement?
Yes, subtract the clear opening width. Do not subtract fireplaces, cabinets or built-ins until you have confirmed no baseboard runs behind or beside them.