Wall widths, edge treatments, and nearby counts
Board and Batten Spacing Chart and Examples
Choose the listed width closest to your wall and compare its three nearest whole-count layouts in both edge modes. The reference inputs are a 2.5-inch batten face and a 16-inch target clear gap; change them to match your material and design.
Interactive comparison
Compare your wall width and nearby counts
Start with the closest listed width, then compare both edge treatments. The complete reference table remains available below.
- Wall
- 10 ft
- Actual face
- 2 1/2 in
- Target gap
- 1 ft 4 in
- Compared modes
- 2
The nearest gap is a numerical comparison. Check the appearance and fit on the measured wall.
TrimLayout · Plan Sheet
Board & Batten Spacing Atlas
- Physical baseline
- Wall-left zero
Battens on both edges
- Nearest count
- 7
- Clear gap
- ≈1 ft 5 1/16 in
- Center-to-center
- ≈1 ft 7 9/16 in
- Right end gap
- 0 in
Equal gaps at both ends
- Nearest count
- 6
- Clear gap
- 1 ft 3 in
- Center-to-center
- 1 ft 5 1/2 in
- Right end gap
- 1 ft 3 in
Battens on both edges candidates
Equal gaps at both ends candidates
How to compare spacing examples
Compare the absolute difference from the target first. The smallest value identifies the nearest whole-count layout, not the best appearance for the room. Clear gap measures the empty space between faces; center spacing includes a batten face as well.
- Choose the boundary. Full edge battens place a face at both stops. Equal end gaps leave open margins that match the internal clear gaps.
- Compare nearby counts. Look at the resolved gap and the first and last faces. Another count can fit casing or a focal object more comfortably even if it is farther from the target.
- Open the candidate you want to test. Its measured dimensions, edge mode, target, and chosen count travel into the current calculator together. Replace the example measurements before using its marks on site.
Show all nine wall widths (18 configurations)
Complete reference spacing chart
These 18 reference configurations use the same 2.5-inch face and 16-inch target, with three candidate counts for each. They remain unchanged when you edit the comparison above. Use All widths CSV for this complete dataset, or CSV for the current comparison.
| Wall | Boundary mode | Candidate | Clear gap | Center-to-center | Target difference | Right end gap | Use this layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | Battens on both edges | 6Nearest | ≈1 ft 4 3/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 11/16 in | ≈3/16 in | 0 in | Open 6 battens |
| 7 | ≈1 ft 1 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 9/16 in | ≈2 15/16 in | 0 in | Open 7 battens | ||
| 5 | 1 ft 8 7/8 in | 1 ft 11 3/8 in | 4 7/8 in | 0 in | Open 5 battens | ||
| 8 ft | Equal end gaps | 4Nearest | ≈1 ft 5 3/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 11/16 in | ≈1 3/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 3/16 in | Open 4 battens |
| 5 | ≈1 ft 1 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 7/16 in | ≈2 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 1 15/16 in | Open 5 battens | ||
| 6 | ≈11 9/16 in | ≈1 ft 2 1/16 in | ≈4 7/16 in | ≈11 9/16 in | Open 6 battens | ||
| 9 ft | Battens on both edges | 7Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 9/16 in | ≈15/16 in | 0 in | Open 7 battens |
| 6 | ≈1 ft 6 5/8 in | ≈1 ft 9 1/8 in | ≈2 5/8 in | 0 in | Open 6 battens | ||
| 8 | ≈1 ft 9/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 1/16 in | ≈3 7/16 in | 0 in | Open 8 battens | ||
| 9 ft | Equal end gaps | 5Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 7/16 in | ≈1/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 15/16 in | Open 5 battens |
| 6 | ≈1 ft 1 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 13/16 in | ≈2 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 1 5/16 in | Open 6 battens | ||
| 4 | ≈1 ft 7 5/8 in | ≈1 ft 10 1/8 in | ≈3 5/8 in | ≈1 ft 7 5/8 in | Open 4 battens | ||
| 10 ft | Battens on both edges | 7Nearest | ≈1 ft 5 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 9/16 in | ≈1 1/16 in | 0 in | Open 7 battens |
| 8 | ≈1 ft 2 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 13/16 in | ≈1 11/16 in | 0 in | Open 8 battens | ||
| 9 | 1 ft 3/16 in | 1 ft 2 11/16 in | 3 13/16 in | 0 in | Open 9 battens | ||
| 10 ft | Equal end gaps | 6Nearest | 1 ft 3 in | 1 ft 5 1/2 in | 1 in | 1 ft 3 in | Open 6 battens |
| 5 | ≈1 ft 5 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 8 7/16 in | ≈1 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 15/16 in | Open 5 battens | ||
| 7 | 1 ft 13/16 in | 1 ft 3 5/16 in | 3 3/16 in | 1 ft 13/16 in | Open 7 battens | ||
| 11 ft | Battens on both edges | 8Nearest | 1 ft 4 in | 1 ft 6 1/2 in | 0 in | 0 in | Open 8 battens |
| 9 | 1 ft 1 11/16 in | 1 ft 4 3/16 in | 2 5/16 in | 0 in | Open 9 battens | ||
| 7 | ≈1 ft 7 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 9 9/16 in | ≈3 1/16 in | 0 in | Open 7 battens | ||
| 11 ft | Equal end gaps | 6Nearest | ≈1 ft 4 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 3/16 in | ≈11/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 11/16 in | Open 6 battens |
| 7 | 1 ft 2 5/16 in | 1 ft 4 13/16 in | 1 11/16 in | 1 ft 2 5/16 in | Open 7 battens | ||
| 8 | ≈1 ft 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 2 15/16 in | ≈3 9/16 in | ≈1 ft 7/16 in | Open 8 battens | ||
| 12 ft | Battens on both edges | 9Nearest | 1 ft 3 3/16 in | 1 ft 5 11/16 in | 13/16 in | 0 in | Open 9 battens |
| 8 | ≈1 ft 5 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 8 3/16 in | ≈1 11/16 in | 0 in | Open 8 battens | ||
| 10 | ≈1 ft 1 1/4 in | ≈1 ft 3 3/4 in | ≈2 3/4 in | 0 in | Open 10 battens | ||
| 12 ft | Equal end gaps | 7Nearest | 1 ft 3 13/16 in | 1 ft 6 5/16 in | 3/16 in | 1 ft 3 13/16 in | Open 7 battens |
| 8 | ≈1 ft 1 3/4 in | ≈1 ft 4 1/4 in | ≈2 1/4 in | ≈1 ft 1 3/4 in | Open 8 battens | ||
| 6 | ≈1 ft 6 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 8 15/16 in | ≈2 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 7/16 in | Open 6 battens | ||
| 14 ft | Battens on both edges | 10Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 7/8 in | ≈1 ft 6 3/8 in | ≈1/8 in | 0 in | Open 10 battens |
| 11 | ≈1 ft 2 1/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 9/16 in | ≈1 15/16 in | 0 in | Open 11 battens | ||
| 9 | 1 ft 6 3/16 in | 1 ft 8 11/16 in | 2 3/16 in | 0 in | Open 9 battens | ||
| 14 ft | Equal end gaps | 8Nearest | ≈1 ft 4 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 15/16 in | ≈7/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 7/16 in | Open 8 battens |
| 9 | ≈1 ft 2 9/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 1/16 in | ≈1 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 2 9/16 in | Open 9 battens | ||
| 7 | 1 ft 6 13/16 in | 1 ft 9 5/16 in | 2 13/16 in | 1 ft 6 13/16 in | Open 7 battens | ||
| 16 ft | Battens on both edges | 11Nearest | ≈1 ft 4 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 15/16 in | ≈7/16 in | 0 in | Open 11 battens |
| 12 | ≈1 ft 2 3/4 in | ≈1 ft 5 1/4 in | ≈1 1/4 in | 0 in | Open 12 battens | ||
| 10 | ≈1 ft 6 9/16 in | ≈1 ft 9 1/16 in | ≈2 9/16 in | 0 in | Open 10 battens | ||
| 16 ft | Equal end gaps | 10Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 3/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 11/16 in | ≈13/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 3/16 in | Open 10 battens |
| 9 | ≈1 ft 4 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 7/16 in | ≈15/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 15/16 in | Open 9 battens | ||
| 11 | ≈1 ft 1 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 3/16 in | ≈2 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 1 11/16 in | Open 11 battens | ||
| 18 ft | Battens on both edges | 13Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 13/16 in | ≈11/16 in | 0 in | Open 13 battens |
| 12 | ≈1 ft 4 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 7/16 in | ≈15/16 in | 0 in | Open 12 battens | ||
| 14 | ≈1 ft 1 15/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 7/16 in | ≈2 1/16 in | 0 in | Open 14 battens | ||
| 18 ft | Equal end gaps | 11Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 6 3/16 in | ≈5/16 in | ≈1 ft 3 11/16 in | Open 11 battens |
| 10 | ≈1 ft 5 3/8 in | ≈1 ft 7 7/8 in | ≈1 3/8 in | ≈1 ft 5 3/8 in | Open 10 battens | ||
| 12 | ≈1 ft 2 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 13/16 in | ≈1 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 2 5/16 in | Open 12 battens | ||
| 20 ft | Battens on both edges | 14Nearest | ≈1 ft 3 3/4 in | ≈1 ft 6 1/4 in | ≈1/4 in | 0 in | Open 14 battens |
| 13 | ≈1 ft 5 5/16 in | ≈1 ft 7 13/16 in | ≈1 5/16 in | 0 in | Open 13 battens | ||
| 15 | ≈1 ft 2 7/16 in | ≈1 ft 4 15/16 in | ≈1 9/16 in | 0 in | Open 15 battens | ||
| 20 ft | Equal end gaps | 12Nearest | ≈1 ft 4 1/8 in | ≈1 ft 6 5/8 in | ≈1/8 in | ≈1 ft 4 1/8 in | Open 12 battens |
| 13 | ≈1 ft 2 13/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 5/16 in | ≈1 3/16 in | ≈1 ft 2 13/16 in | Open 13 battens | ||
| 11 | ≈1 ft 5 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 8 3/16 in | ≈1 11/16 in | ≈1 ft 5 11/16 in | Open 11 battens |
Why the nearest count changes with wall width
With battens on both edges, N battens create N−1 internal clear gaps. Subtract the occupied faces from the measured width, divide the remainder among those gaps, then compare valid whole counts with the target.
For the reference 120-inch wall, 7 battens give ≈1 ft 5 1/16 in clear gaps, ≈1 1/16 in from the target. For the 144-inch wall, 9 battens give 1 ft 3 3/16 in clear gaps, 13/16 in from the same target. The wider wall changes both the available clear width and the feasible whole counts.
A proportional enlargement of the shorter wall’s batten count does not produce a usable fractional batten. Recalculate at the actual width, and compare an adjacent whole count if the nearest option creates an awkward end condition.
Translate the comparison to your wall
The dropdown covers nine reference widths. If your wall lies between them, start with a nearby example and enter the exact width in the calculator. Do not interpolate its installation marks: each position comes from the same physical wall-left zero using the selected count and actual face.
The examples show an eight-foot batten length to make the full-height comparison visible. Confirm your own vertical stops before reading material demand. Add windows, doors, and other walls in the same project when needed; openings change the installed pieces without automatically restarting the entire pattern.
What this spacing comparison does not decide
These reference layouts are uninterrupted decorative wall fields. The right end gap is the distance from the last batten to the wall edge: it closes to zero with full edge battens and remains a deliberate margin in equal-gap mode. It is not a measurement-error allowance.
The chart does not select rails, corner details, or a purchase quantity. Assign the actual material profiles, stock lengths, kerf, end trimming, and spares in the project. Check the first and last marks, opening boundaries, and real fitting conditions before cutting.
Read the spacing calculation method for the formulas and measurement references.