Shiplap Calculator

If you've always dreamed of redoing your interior with shiplap but don't know where to start — our shiplap calculator will guide you step by step through your project.

Starting a new DIY project like a shiplap wall can be overwhelming, as many questions come to mind: How many shiplap boards do I need? How do I calculate how much shiplap I need? Or how much is my project going to cost?

We created the shiplap calculator to help you answer all these questions and more. In the following article, you will learn how to calculate shiplap coverage, estimate the number of shiplap boards, and determine the overall cost.

Are you ready?

Shiplap is a durable form of paneling designed initially for exterior cladding. It can be manufactured from wood or new materials like PVC paneling. The main feature of shiplap is the rabbet, i.e., the connectable grooves in the boards that overlap the edges and create a solid joint.

The shiplap creates a specific design that blends equally well with modern, industrial, or traditional design. Shiplap boards can be painted or stained and installed horizontally or vertically. If you want to know how much paint you need to color your boards, check out our paint calculator. But before thinking about painting, let's see how to use our shiplap calculator to determine the number of shiplap boards your project requires.

If you are in any doubt about how to calculate the shiplap needed using the shiplap tool by Omni Calculator, here is a brief series of instructions:

1. Determine the area of your project. Start by choosing whether your project is a simple flat wall or if it has windows and/or doors. Our calculator also calculates shiplap coverage for a ceiling — just opt for the flat wall mode. You can also check our square footage calculator for a quick estimation.

   • For a flat wall, input the height and the length of the wall, and you will get its area.

   • For a wall with windows and doors, input the height and the length of the wall. Then, add the number of windows and/or number of doors, and enter their respective height and width. The calculator will show you the area of the wall only.

2. Now, you need to determine the shiplap board size. Provide a single board's width and a single board's length to get the area it covers.

3. With all these values ready, the calculator will answer the question of how many shiplap boards I need to cover one square foot, as well as the number of shiplap boards you will need for your project.

4. For specific manual projects, buying a little bit more material (around 5 to 10% more) is sometimes advised just in case of default, breakage, or errors. So we've added an option Take wastage into account to calculate the total number of shiplap boards with 5% more as the default value. You can change this value.

5. Finally, our shiplap calculator is also a shiplap cost calculator that will help you estimate the cost of your project:

   • Click on the heading "Calculate costs" to open the cost section of the calculator.

   • To estimate the shiplast cost, simply state the price of a single shiplap board, and our calculator will do the work for you.

   • To get the estimated cost of installation, put in the cost of installation per square foot. Typically, it costs between $1 and $4, but the prices will vary depending on your location.

   • The shiplap cost calculator will sum up the two values above and show you the project's total estimated expenses, both for the shiplap boards' cost and their installation by professionals. If you have considered the wastage, the extra materials will also be included in the final price.

It's finally time! You've decided to redo the wall in your living room. After leafing through various decorating magazines, your heart has leaned towards a wall in shiplap. If you are hesitant about which shiplap boards to choose, take a look at our section below for the different types of materials and their costs. Now, let's dive into the calculations.

1. First, you must know the area the shiplap boards will cover. Your wall is 8 feet high and 16 feet long. It also has two windows: both are 2 feet wide by 3 feet high. Here is the formula to calculate the shiplap coverage:

• With:

  $\small\mathrm{wall_h}$ — Wall height

  $\small\mathrm{wall_l}$ — Wall length

  $\small\mathrm{window_h}$ — Window height

  $\small\mathrm{window_w}$ — Window width

• For your project:

2. Next, you have to calculate the area a single shiplap board covers and the number of shiplap boards per square foot. You chose 8'' × 8' boards.

Before multiplying the shiplap board's length by its width, you need to convert feet into inches. For that, you can use our length converter or multiply the 8 feet by 12. The area of a single shiplap board is 768 in².

• To calculate how many shiplap boards fit in one square foot:

• The reason why the numerator is 144 is that there are 144 square inches in one square foot. So for you:

3. Now you need to calculate the number of shiplap boards needed. To do this, use this equation:

• (rounded up — if you don't get a full number, you might need to round it up). So the actual calculation goes like this:

You round up to 22. You will need to cut ¹/₄ of a shiplap board.

4. With our shiplap cost calculator, you can also estimate the cost of shiplap. You want to buy shiplap boards that are $2.50.

• You would also like to have the shiplap installed by a professional. In your area, the cost of such service is $4 per square foot, so:

The first step in your renovation project is choosing the shiplap that you like that will best match your decor.

Here are some price estimations depending on the type of shiplap boards:

*Not including installation.
**Medium-density fibreboard.

Standard widths for shiplap boards are 5 ¹/₄ inches and 7 ¹/₄ inches. However, shiplap boards are available in various lengths and thicknesses. In general, the thicker and longer the boards, the more expensive they are. The main factors influencing the cost of your shiplap project are the type of siding, the size of the project, and the rates charged by contractors in your area.

Now it's time to get your hands dirty. There are two ways of installing shiplap. If you choose PVC paneling, it's pretty simple. They are glued to a clean, dry wall to prevent mold infiltration, and that's it. For wood shiplap, the process is more complex. Here are some sets of instructions:

1. Prepare the surface area of your project: wall or ceiling. As for the PVC paneling above, it must be perfectly clean and free from dampness and dust. Make sure the surface is level.

2. Install cleats to frame the shiplap. They are fixed to the wall at right angles to the direction in which the shiplap boards are laid.

3. Nail the shiplap board on one side to the bottom of the surface, then continue with the remaining boards, clipping them together end-to-end.

4. If necessary, cut the last board using a jigsaw. Cutting is also necessary if there are obstacles on the surface (sockets, switches, etc.) or if you're installing in corners.

5. Enjoy your new stylish wall or ceiling.