Baseboard Calculator
Calculate how many linear feet of baseboard you need from your room's perimeter minus doorways, plus total material cost.
How this calculator works
Baseboard runs along the base of your walls, but it doesn’t cross open doorways. This calculator starts with your room’s full perimeter, then subtracts a standard doorway width for each doorway you enter, since that stretch of wall doesn’t get baseboard. The result is multiplied by your price per foot to estimate total material cost.
Formula: Baseboard needed = room perimeter − (number of doorways × typical doorway width, 3 ft). Cost = baseboard feet × price per foot.
Worked example
A room with a 60 ft perimeter, 2 doorways, and $2.50/ft baseboard:
- Perimeter: 60 ft
- Doorway deduction: 2 × 3 ft = 6 ft
- Baseboard needed: 60 − 6 = 54 ft
- Cost: 54 × $2.50 = $135
Notes
This calculator subtracts standard 3 ft door openings only. If your room also has wider openings — closets, hallway pass-throughs, or open archways — subtract those separately at their actual width, since they can be much wider than a standard door and this calculator won’t know about them automatically.
Add 5-10% extra to your final total to cover waste from mitered corner cuts. Every inside and outside corner requires an angled cut, and those cuts use up more board than a straight run of wall, so a small buffer helps you avoid an extra trip to the store.
How to use
Enter your room’s perimeter (or its length and width, if the calculator builds perimeter for you), the number of standard doorways, and your price per linear foot. The result gives you both the linear feet of baseboard needed and the estimated material cost, which you can then adjust for any wide openings or waste.
A material planning estimate. Measure your actual room openings for a precise order, and add extra for waste on cuts and corners.
Frequently asked questions
How much baseboard do I need for a room?
Take your room's total perimeter and subtract the width of each doorway, since baseboard doesn't run across an open doorway. This calculator uses a typical 3 ft doorway width, so if your doors are wider or narrower, adjust the total accordingly before ordering.
Do I need to subtract closet openings too?
Yes. This calculator only subtracts standard doorways. Closets, hallway openings, and other wide gaps should be subtracted separately at their actual width, since they can be significantly wider or narrower than a typical door.
How much extra baseboard should I buy for waste?
Add 5-10% on top of your calculated total to cover mitered corner cuts and mistakes. Corners require angled cuts that use up more material than a straight run, so a little extra keeps you from running short mid-installation.
How is baseboard cost calculated?
Multiply the total linear feet of baseboard needed by the price per linear foot of the baseboard you're buying. This gives you the material cost before tax, delivery, or any waste allowance you choose to add on top.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.