Timber Quantity

Calculate coverage area, board count, estimated weight, and guide cost for cladding and simple timber coverage jobs.

Project details

Estimate board quantity before you ask for a quote.

Use this for cladding, fencing boards, trim runs, and simple coverage jobs. It gives a starting quantity, not a cutting list promise.

Species

Density is used for the estimated weight when species data exists.

Width / span

Length / height

Board specification

Nominal width

Actual face cover

Thickness

Board length

Allowances

Waste

Guide price

/m2

Quantity required

—

Boards, including waste allowance

Project area —

Linear metres —

Effective coverage —

Estimated weight —

Estimated cost —

How to use

Get a reliable estimate (without pretending it’s a cutting list).

Measure the total area you’re covering. For multiple runs, add each (width × height) together.
Use the actual face cover per board (after overlap, shadow gap, or profile). Nominal width is only for identification.
Set a realistic waste allowance. Start at 10% for straightforward rectangles; go higher for lots of openings, angles, or trims.
If you know the species, select it to estimate weight. If you have a budget price, add it to estimate cost per m².

Outputs

What the numbers mean

Boards: the count including your waste allowance, based on effective cover and board length.
Linear metres: a quick sense-check against what you’re ordering and how it will handle/transport.
Estimated weight: uses species density where available. Treat it as a guide for delivery planning.
Estimated cost: uses your guide price per m² as a rough budgeting tool, not a final quote.

Quick start

Measure each run you are covering (width × height), then add them up if you have multiple walls.
Use the product’s face cover (after overlap / shadow gap), not the nominal width.
Set waste: 10% for simple rectangles, 15%+ for lots of cuts, corners, or openings.
Optional: pick a species to estimate weight and add a guide price to estimate cost.

Get better results

If your boards run horizontally, enter the wall height as the “length / height” input.
If your boards run vertically, enter the wall width as the “length / height” input.
For feather edge and overlaps, measure the visible cover you actually get per board.
Treat the result as a quoting start point. Final quantities depend on defects, trims, and fixing pattern.

Next step

Got a measurement and a target look? Send the calculator result with your project notes and I'll sanity-check it for you.

Send an enquiry

Learn and verify

Browse guides Plain-English modules Open glossary Fast definitions Species reference sheets Behaviour and constraints

Assumptions

This assumes a simple coverage job. Real board count depends on openings, corners, starter strips, trims, defects, and the fixing pattern. Use the result to start a quote, then adjust once the detail is known.