Wall panelling design tool
& spacing calculator
Most wall panelling calculators give you numbers in a table. This one draws the actual wall so you can see what the panels will look like before you start cutting MDF. It works for board and batten, shaker panels, wainscoting, grid layouts, and anything else with rectangular panels and battens.
What the tool does
You type in your wall dimensions, choose a layout (or pick one of the 24 templates), and the canvas draws your panels to scale. Every batten, gap, and border is shown, and the dimensions update live as you make changes.
The divider handles between panels are draggable. Slide one to make a panel wider and its neighbour narrower. They snap when they match, which makes getting even batten spacing straightforward. You can set the batten width, adjust gaps per edge or per row, and override individual column gaps by clicking on them directly.
There is a dado rail option that splits the wall at chair height for wainscoting styles, and an inner panel mode that adds a second frame inside each panel for a raised panelling look. Both show up in the cut list.
When the layout looks right, the cut list gives you every batten strip with its length, quantity, and type: horizontal, vertical, inner, and dado rail. You pick a corner joint mode (mitre or butt) and the lengths adjust. Download it as a CSV or print the full layout with all the measurements labelled.
How to plan your wall panelling layout
Measure your wall width and height in millimetres. If it is not perfectly square, measure a few points and use the largest. For half-wall panelling or wainscoting, measure just the section you want to panel.
Enter the dimensions in the sidebar and set the number of rows and columns. A single row gives you board and batten. Multiple rows and columns give you shaker or grid panelling. You can also pick a template. There are simple grids, classic styles like Georgian, Victorian, and Jacobean, and some creative ones like Mondrian and Art Deco.
Set your batten width, gap sizes, and border widths. Drag the handles on the canvas to fine-tune spacing. Use the equalise buttons if you want all rows or columns the same size. Turn on the dado rail or inner panels if the style calls for it.
When it looks right, open the cut list and pick your corner joint mode. The list shows everything you need to cut, grouped by type and length. Download the CSV or print the layout to take to the workshop.
Common questions
How do I work out the spacing for wall panelling?
Enter your wall width and height in millimetres, pick how many rows and columns you want, and set the gap size. The tool works out every panel dimension for you. From there you can drag the divider handles to adjust individual panels. The rest of the layout stays aligned automatically.
Does this work for board and batten, shaker, and wainscoting styles?
Yes. Use a single row for board and batten, multiple rows and columns for shaker or grid layouts, and turn on the dado rail for wainscoting. There are also templates for common styles like Shaker, Georgian, Victorian, Jacobean, Parisian, and a few more creative ones if you want a starting point.
What size MDF do I need for the battens?
Most DIY panelling uses 9mm or 12mm MDF cut into strips around 40mm to 100mm wide. You can set the batten width in the sidebar and the tool factors it into all the panel calculations. The cut list tells you the exact length and quantity of every strip.
How do I measure my wall?
Measure the full width and height in millimetres. If the wall is not perfectly square, take measurements at a few points and use the largest. For wainscoting or half-wall panelling, just measure the section you want to panel.
What is the dado rail option?
It adds a horizontal rail at chair height that splits your wall into upper and lower sections, which is the classic wainscoting look. You can set the rail height, width, and spacing. A few of the templates turn it on automatically.
How do I know how many battens to buy?
Once your layout looks right, open the cut list. It shows every batten strip grouped by length with a quantity count, total linear metres, and separate entries for horizontal, vertical, inner panel, and dado rail strips. You can download it as a CSV to take to the timber merchant.
What are the corner joint options in the cut list?
You can choose mitre (45-degree cuts), butt-horizontal (horizontals full width, verticals trimmed), or butt-vertical (verticals full height, horizontals trimmed). The strip lengths in the cut list adjust based on which you pick.
Do I need to sign up?
No. There is no account, no signup, and no limit on how many designs you can make. Your layout saves in the browser automatically so you can close the tab and come back to it.
Wall panelling design tool and spacing calculator. Works for board and batten, shaker, wainscoting, and custom layouts.