How to figure out how much paneling I need

To figure out how many panels you need to buy for a paneling job is a little complicated, even for experts that have been doing this kind of work for years, but it is definitely not rocket science. This blog is intended to make things much more simpler for you by giving you some secret tips that will make the calculation easier. After reading this blog, you will know every aspect you must consider, and you will have a step by step guide to easily calculate the number of panels and the cost of the job yourself.

• First thing you need to have is a piece of paper and a pencil to write down the measurements.

• Second thing is a tape measure. A calculator and a ladder are frequently needed.

Your objective is to calculate the area of all the flat surfaces where you plan to install the panels. The area (Width x Height) will give you the square footage of drywall you need. 

• A good idea is to have an order in the sequence of measurements and calculations. 
• Always start from right to left, so you don’t have to think about it. You will know where to measure at every moment of the process.

Let’s start with one room.

You need to know the length and height of each of the four walls to get the square footage of each individual wall. Then you can add the four subtotals. Or, you can add up the length of all four walls and multiply it by the height of the room, if the height is the same for all four walls.  

For the ceiling, you can simply measure the width and the length of the floor. If the ceiling is sloped, then you’ll need to use a ladder and determine the width and the length measurements.

• If there are any walls or windows, measure their length and height, and then subtract these measurements from the overall square footage of its respective wall.

The number of panels will depend on the size of the panels you decide to buy.  You can use 4-by-8 panels, or 4-by-12 panels for drywall jobs. Different sizes of panels are often available for wood paneling, so you need to choose the size of the panel first.

• If the room is 8 feet tall choose 4-by-8. 
• 4-by-12 panels are indicated for higher ceiling rooms, to reduce the number of joints, or to hang the panel horizontally.

Now that you have the total square footage, you will determine how many panels you will buy by dividing the total footage by the drywall panel square footage. It can be 32 for 4-by-8 panels, or 48 for 4-by-12 panels. 

Let’s say the total square footage of the room is 723, and you decided to use 4-by-8 panels. Then you will have to divide 723 by 32. The result is 22.6 panels, which you should round up to 23.

• Always add a ten percent to the panels total to account for mistakes. If your calculations yield that you need 23 panels, then you need to buy 25 panels. 
• There are a lot of details to consider for every paneling job so it is better to make sure you have enough panels.