Wainscoting calculator
Set your wall size and dado height and get an even wainscot panel layout, a cut list and a material cost estimate — with the panels balanced around doors, windows and sockets.
Open the planner with wainscoting →Runs in your browser. No sign-up, no download. Your first wall is free.
How to lay out wainscoting that looks right
Good wainscoting comes down to two decisions: how high it sits, and how evenly the panels divide the wall. Get those two right and the rest follows.
- Set the dado height. A reliable starting point is about one third of the wall height — roughly 800–900 mm (32–36 in) in a standard room. The planner shows the line on the wall so you can judge it against doors and windows.
- Choose the panel count. Divide the run between your end margins into equal panels. The calculator balances the widths so every panel and every stile between them matches.
- Work around obstacles. Add doors, windows and sockets and the layout keeps the panels even either side instead of leaving one awkward narrow panel.
- Finish the top. Add a dado (chair) rail and, if you want, a top rail and skirting, and the cut list updates to include them.
How high should wainscoting be?
The one-third rule (around 800–900 mm) suits most rooms and is the safe default. Two-thirds-height wainscoting reads more formal and traditional and works well in hallways and dining rooms. In a room with a picture rail, aligning the dado to a feature in the room usually looks better than a fixed number — so set the height and preview it before committing.
Materials
Most painted wainscoting is built from MDF: a sheet or applied-moulding back, with 9–12 mm strip for the rails, stiles and panel mouldings. The planner keeps each profile separate in the cut list and prices them individually, so rails, stiles and panel trim stay correct.
What you get
- A scaled drawing of the wall with the dado line and every panel placed.
- A cut list grouped by profile, packed onto your stock length with kerf and end trims accounted for.
- A material cost estimate in your currency, with a waste allowance you set.
- A printable build pack — drawings, cuts, a shopping list and fitting steps — to save as a PDF.
Wainscoting calculator FAQ
- How high should wainscoting be?
- A common rule is about one third of the wall height — near 800–900 mm (32–36 in) in a standard room. Taller, two-thirds wainscoting reads more formal. Set your dado height in the calculator and the panels fit the lower section exactly.
- How do you space wainscoting panels evenly?
- Divide the run between the end margins into equal panels, keeping the stiles between them identical. The calculator balances the widths and works around doors, windows and sockets so each panel stays even.
- What is the difference between wainscoting and a dado?
- Wainscoting is the panelling on the lower wall; the dado is the height line it runs to, usually finished with a dado (chair) rail. Set a dado height and the panels, rail and lower section all follow it.
- Is it free?
- Yes. Plan one wall, see the full layout, cut list and cost, and export for free. A one-time Pro unlock adds unlimited walls and removes the export watermark.