Panel & Tile Count Calculator
Get an exact panel or tile count for shiplap, beadboard, slat walls, and square wainscoting tiles, with a sensible waste allowance built in.
Panels/tiles needed
Counting a grid of panels
A wall of panels or tiles is a grid, and a grid is just two divisions: the wall's width divided by one panel's footprint (its own width plus the joint gap) gives the columns, and the wall's height divided by the panel's footprint height gives the rows. Multiplying columns by rows gives the number of full panels that cover the wall, always rounded up since a partial panel still needs a whole one cut down to fit.
From there, add the waste allowance for cuts around corners, outlets, and the occasional mistake, and you have a shopping-list number rather than a bare theoretical minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the calculator add the joint gap to the panel size?
Panels and tiles are rarely butted perfectly edge to edge — shiplap boards have a reveal, and tiles need a grout or expansion joint. Adding that gap to the panel's own width and height before dividing into the wall gives an accurate count of how many actually fit, not an optimistic one.
Why buy extra beyond the exact count?
A 10% waste allowance is the standard contractor rule of thumb for wall paneling and tiling — it covers angled cuts at corners and outlets, the occasional damaged piece, and small measuring errors, without leaving you short mid-project.
Does this work for horizontal shiplap as well as vertical tiles?
Yes — the math is orientation-agnostic. Enter the panel's width and height exactly as it will sit on the wall (a horizontal shiplap board's "height" is its narrow reveal dimension), and the columns/rows the calculator returns will match your actual layout.
What if my wall has a door or window?
This calculator sizes a flat, uninterrupted wall. For a wall with openings, measure and calculate each solid section separately (above a doorway, beside a window, and so on) and add the totals together, since panels that would have landed inside an opening aren't needed there.
Educational estimate only. Always confirm panel or tile dimensions against the specific product you're buying — sizes vary by manufacturer.