Deck material calculator
Boards are assumed to run the length of the deck. We divide width by board width plus gap, then multiply by length. Waste percent adds extra linear feet and extra boards. This is a takeoff, not a cutting list.
Boards run this direction.
- Deck area
- 192.0 sq ft
- Board rows
- 26
- Linear feet
- 416.00 ft
- Linear feet with waste
- 457.60 ft
- Board count (deck-length sticks, after waste)
- 29
Estimate only. It does not choose 12 ft vs 16 ft stock, stairs, or picture-frame borders.
Example
A 16 × 12 ft rectangle on 5.5 inch boards
Length 16 ft, width 12 ft, 5.5 in boards, 1/8 in gap, 10% waste. You get square footage, how many board rows span the width, linear feet, and a board count after waste.
Related: Roof pitch calculator
FAQ
- Is this an estimate or a cut list?
- Estimate only. It ignores stairs, picture-frame borders, actual stock lengths (12 ft vs 16 ft), hidden fasteners, and the way a yard sells mixed packs.
- Which way do the boards run?
- Along the length field. Width is the direction we tile with (board width + gap). Swap the two numbers if your boards run the other way.
- What units?
- Deck size in feet. Board width and gap in inches, which matches common 5/4 × 6 decking (about 5.5 in face) and a 1/8 in gap.
- Does waste change board count?
- Yes. Linear feet are multiplied by (1 + waste%). Board count is the row count increased by the same percentage, rounded up, as if each board is one deck-length stick.
- How do I calculate boards without this page?
- Boards run along lengthFt. coverageIn = boardWidthIn + gapIn. boardRows = ceil((widthFt × 12) / coverageIn). linearFeet = boardRows × lengthFt. linearFeetWithWaste = linearFeet × (1 + wastePercent/100). boardCount = ceil(boardRows × (1 + wastePercent/100)). Area is length × width in square feet. Estimate only — not a cutting list.