Measure first. Cut with confidence.

Choose the area you are decorating

Measure the wall width at several heights. Decide whether your layout starts above an existing baseboard, and whether it ends below a ceiling molding. For picture frames, enter that clear layout area. For board and batten, the entered height includes the two new rails.

These planners handle one flat rectangle. They do not account for sloping ceilings, uneven walls, or corners. You can check one rectangular window or outlet using the obstacle controls. Mark every other opening or fixture on the wall and check those separately.

Measure your trim, not its product name

Use the visible face width. A nominal 1 × 4 board is commonly 3½ inches wide, not 4 inches. Check the actual product: decorative profiles and metric boards can vary. Thickness is a separate measurement and does not determine the clear spacing here.

Define what a gap means

In the board and batten calculator, a gap is the empty width between two vertical battens. Five gaps need six battens, including both edges. Battens sit between two full-width rails. Both rails use the same face width.

In the picture frame molding calculator, the outer margin is measured from the layout boundary to the outside edge of the frame. The gap between frames is the clear space between their outside edges. Columns and rows create equal-size frames.

Transfer positions from one reference edge

Tape the full design on the wall and look at it from the room entrance. For battens, use the position list to measure each left edge from the same origin. Repeatedly adding a rounded gap can accumulate error. The diagram shows proportions; it is not a full-size cutting template.

For a mitered frame, the listed length is the outside long-point to long-point distance. The two ends use opposing 45-degree miters. The inside opening is smaller than the outside frame by twice the molding face width in each direction.

Keep trim clear of a window or outlet

Enable “Check a window or outlet” in either calculator. The starting values are only an example. Measure the entire cover plate or window casing as a rectangle, then enter its width and height. Measure from the layout area’s left edge to the obstacle’s left edge, and from the layout area’s bottom edge to the obstacle’s bottom edge. If the layout starts above a baseboard, measure from that starting line, not from the floor.

The planning buffer expands that rectangle equally on all four sides. For example, a 4 × 6-inch obstacle with a 0.5-inch buffer reserves a 5 × 7-inch area. It is a design allowance you choose, not a certified electrical or installation clearance. Leave access to fixtures and follow the applicable product and installation requirements.

The hatched box marks the obstacle and the dashed outline marks its buffer. Trim may touch the outer buffer boundary mathematically, but cannot overlap its interior. Choose a practical buffer for measurement and installation variation. Frame centers are empty, so an obstacle can fit inside a frame if all four molding strips clear it.

The comparison checks gap counts from 1 to 24 for battens, or column counts from 1 to 12 for frames. All other measurements stay fixed. It shows up to three clear alternatives closest to your current count, using trim length to break ties. Choosing one updates both the diagram and the complete cut list. A window crossing a full-width rail may leave no solution in this search; revise the design rather than treating a warning as permission to cut around it.

Only one marked obstacle is checked. The tool does not specify notches, partial frames, cable routes, fastening points, or changes to electrical fixtures. Print is available when the entered plan has no detected overlap. Always tape out the complete design, including other fixtures, before cutting.

Check the cut list against real stock

The list contains geometric piece lengths. It does not pack cuts into purchasable boards. A 144-inch rail needs appropriate stock or a separately planned joint; twelve linear feet of shorter offcuts cannot form an uninterrupted rail. Keep different face widths and profiles separate when buying.

The extra-material percentage adds a footage allowance. It cannot guarantee enough stock after saw kerf, offcuts, defects, or mistakes. Set the allowance for your project and check the available board lengths.

Fit pieces to the actual wall

Confirm each piece before cutting. Walls may vary in height or be out of square. These tools estimate a decorative layout; they do not specify structural fastening, electrical clearances, or a safe installation method. Follow the trim and adhesive manufacturer’s instructions and the requirements of your wall.