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Deck material calculator

Deck Board Calculator

Estimate rows, boards, linear footage and waste using actual board width, gaps, orientation and stock length.

Deck and actual board dimensions

Enter actual board width, not nominal lumber size. Rows account for the gap between boards.

Planning result

Board rows
26
Pieces per row
2
Boards before waste
52
Boards to buy
58
Linear feet
696.00
Board-face coverage
238.33 ft²
Waste allowance
6 boards

About Deck Board Calculator

Plan decking from deck dimensions, actual board width, gap, orientation and available stock length.

Inputs and calculations stay in your browser and require no signup.

How the calculation works

Planning calculation

Rows satisfy rows × board width + (rows − 1) × gap across the deck; each row is divided by stock length.

How to use this calculator

  1. 1Enter measured project dimensions and quantities.
  2. 2Adjust material, spacing, waste or density assumptions to match the project.
  3. 3Review the live planning quantities.
  4. 4Round purchasing quantities appropriately and confirm field conditions.

Understanding the result

The result distinguishes board-face coverage from the deck footprint and counts stock boards after waste.

Results use the units shown beside each field and output.

Important limitations

  • Enter actual rather than nominal lumber width.
  • Layouts with picture frames, diagonal boards, complex joints or mixed stock lengths need additional allowance.

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Frequently asked questions

Are gaps included?

Yes. The row calculation explicitly includes spacing between boards.

What does orientation change?

It swaps which deck dimension defines row length and which defines the number of rows.

Should I enter nominal width?

No. Use the board’s actual face width.

Use with

These tools support a practical next or previous step in the same workflow.

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