Timber & Framing
Baseboard / Skirting Board Calculator
Estimates linear metres of skirting board for a room perimeter
Updated 28 May 2026 · Live
What this tool does
Estimates the linear metres of skirting board needed for a room, deducting door openings and applying a wastage allowance for mitre and scribe cuts.
Formula Used
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How the baseboard / skirting board calculator works
Subtract the total door-opening width from the room perimeter to get the run that needs trim, then add a wastage allowance for mitres, scribes and end-of-run offcuts. Multiply by the supplier rate per linear metre for an indicative cost. Every figure is an estimate — actual cuts depend on profile, room geometry and corner type.
Typical UK skirting wastage
A simple rectangular room with four internal corners is well served by 5% wastage — enough for four mitred or scribed cuts and one end-of-run offcut. Bay windows, multiple alcoves, fireplace returns, and rooms with moulded profiles that need scribing rather than mitring run closer to 10–15%. Buying in long lengths (3.0–4.2 m are common UK stock sizes) reduces joins on each wall.
What this tool does not do
It does not factor moulded-profile complexity, account for radiator pipework cut-outs, or replace a supplier quote. It assumes one continuous run with deductions only for full door openings.
On-site considerations for skirting board
Skirting in the UK is most often supplied in MDF (primed or pre-finished), softwood, or hardwood, in heights from 70 mm up to 220 mm. Internal corners are usually scribed for moulded profiles and mitred for flat or square profiles; external corners are mitred either way. Fixing into masonry is typically by adhesive plus dot-and-dab nails or screws into plugs; into stud walls, by nails or screws into studs and noggins. Carpenters commonly hold the skirting a few millimetres clear of the floor finish where carpet returns will tuck under.
Product references
BS 1186-3 covers wood trim performance and BS EN 622-5 covers MDF skirting profiles — useful when comparing supplier specifications. Approved Document E mentions edge-sealing where skirting meets the floor in flats and houses converted to flats, since flanking sound paths run along that junction.
Before you order
Cross-check the calculator's output against a supplier quote — pricing varies by profile, material and finish. Asking for the specific product (MDF grade, profile name, primed or raw, length stock) and confirming the lead time helps avoid a partial delivery that delays second-fix.
Adjusting the defaults
Every input is editable. Enter the room perimeter, sum the door-opening widths, choose a wastage percentage to suit the room geometry, and set the price per metre to match your supplier. The output recalculates instantly.
Using this calculator alongside other BuildMetricLab tools
Pair the skirting length with our paint, coving and material-cost calculators to scope a complete second-fix package. All BuildMetricLab tools run entirely in your browser — no sign-up, no data sent anywhere, and every formula is shown on-page so you can audit the maths.
Sources & methodology
Length = (Room perimeter − Total door widths) × (1 + Wastage). Defaults assume one continuous run with deductions only for full door openings; the 5% default wastage covers four corner cuts and one end-of-run offcut in a simple rectangular room. Indicative cost = length × price per metre.
Frequently asked questions
Are baseboard / skirting board calculator results accurate enough to order materials?
Use them as a starting estimate only. Verifying the final quantity with your supplier or contractor before ordering is good practice — site conditions, wastage and cut-offs all affect the true figure.
What wastage percentage should I use?
5% covers a simple rectangular room with four corner cuts and one end-of-run offcut. Bay windows, multiple alcoves, fireplace returns, or moulded profiles that need scribing rather than mitring usually need 10–15%. Adjust the input to match the room geometry — values below 5% leave little margin for a miscut.
Do I deduct the full door-opening width or the door-leaf width?
Deduct the opening width (the gap that skirting will not cross), not the door-leaf width — they differ by a few millimetres. For a typical UK internal 762 mm door, that's 0.762 m per opening; for an 838 mm door, 0.838 m. Add the openings together for the Total Door Widths input.
Can I change the unit prices?
Yes — every price field is editable. Plug in your supplier's quote to get a total that matches your project.
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