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Board and batten spacing with 1x4 battens

A 1x4 board is 3 1/2 inches wide, not 4. The 1 inch is the thickness before drying, and the real thickness is 3/4 inch. Enter 3 1/2 for the width, as this page does.

Wider battens give a bolder look and cover more of the wall. For the same gap, you need fewer of them than 1x3 battens.

Units
Wall width

Or type it in the feet box in one go, like 12'6 1/2.

Wall height

Or type it in the feet box in one go, like 8'2.

Batten width

A 1x3 board is 2 1/2 in wide, a 1x4 is 3 1/2 in.

I know

Gap between battens

 

 

Battens

 

 

Center to center

 

between marks

    Drawn to scale. Numbers match the mark list below.

    Marks from the left

    Measure from the left edge of the wall. Make a pencil mark at each center, then set each batten on its mark.

    #CenterLeft edge

    Cut list

      Boards to buy

      Board lengthBoardsWaste

      Center to center is the distance from the middle of one batten to the middle of the next. This tool counts battens and rails only. It does not count the wide boards or panels behind them. With no end battens, the gap at each end of the wall equals every other gap. Short offcuts from 10 and 12 foot boards work well for small trim pieces.

      Battens and gaps for 3 1/2" wide battens

      A batten at each end. Each count gives the gap nearest 8, 12 or 16 inches.

      Wall widthBattensGapBattensGapBattensGap
      8 ft98 1/16"711 15/16"615"
      10 ft118 1/8"911 1/16"715 15/16"
      12 ft138 3/16"1012 1/8"816 9/16"
      14 ft158 1/4"1211 7/16"917 1/16"
      16 ft178 5/16"1312 3/16"1115 3/8"

      Center to center distance

      The distance from the middle of one batten to the middle of the next is the gap plus 3 1/2".

      GapCenter to center
      6"9 1/2"
      8"11 1/2"
      10"13 1/2"
      12"15 1/2"
      14"17 1/2"
      16"19 1/2"

      Why gaps change with a wider batten

      Each batten takes 1 inch more than a 1x3. Across a 12 foot wall, ten battens take 35 inches instead of 25. The gap shrinks from 13 1/4 to 12 1/9 inches. So if you swap 1x3 for 1x4 and keep the count, the gaps get narrower. If you want to keep the gap, drop one batten.

      Center to center for 1x4 battens

      The center to center distance is the gap plus 3 1/2 inches. The second table shows it for common gaps. Use it if you mark a level line and step along it with a story stick.

      Questions

      What is the real width of a 1x4?

      A 1x4 is 3 1/2 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick. Measure your boards, because some mills differ a little.

      Are 1x4 battens too wide for board and batten?

      No. Many people use them on tall walls or in large rooms. On a small wall, 1x3 or 1x2 battens look lighter.

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