construction calculator
Boards Needed (Coverage) Calculator
Count the boards to cover an area — decking, siding, or flooring — from the board width, length, and a waste allowance.
How it works
coveragePerBoard = (board_width_in / 12) x board_length_ft. boards = ceiling((area / coveragePerBoard) x (1 + waste% / 100)).
Worked example
200 ft2 with 6 in x 8 ft boards, no waste: coverage 4 ft2 each, boards = ceil(200 / 4) = 50.
When to use it
- Use the exposed (face) width for lap siding or tongue-and-groove, not the nominal width.
- Decking and flooring typically add 10-15% waste for cuts, defects, and diagonal patterns.