Practical guide
Skirting Board Metres, Stock Lengths and Cut Lists
Total metres help with an early budget. Individual piece lengths are needed to check how the work fits into the stock sold by the supplier.
Updated 16 October 2026
Reviewed by the 99Tools team. Editorial and corrections policy.
How much skirting board do I need?
Room-budget mode adds 2 × (length + width) for each rectangular room, subtracts the combined doorway and other unskirted lengths per room, and multiplies by the identical-room count. Do not subtract the same opening twice or deduct furniture that will not permanently interrupt the trim. Irregular rooms need a measured wall schedule instead of one enclosing rectangle. Deductions larger than the perimeter are rejected, and the combined net requirement must be positive.
Why total metres are not a cutting plan
In room-budget mode, the entered allowance adds to net metres before division by usable stock length. The result is a total-length budget quantity, not proof that the measured pieces fit in those lengths. Long uninterrupted walls, the position of doorways, profile direction and permitted joints can increase the actual purchase. Do not describe the unallocated material as guaranteed reusable offcuts. Use cut-list mode when the individual pieces have been measured.
Cut-list mode and stock allocation
Enter each measured finished piece length and the number of identical pieces. These must already use the correct long-point or other measurement convention for the planned joints. The tool can add an explicitly entered extra length per piece; it does not derive mitre or scribe allowances from profile height. It sorts pieces from longest to shortest and places each into the first stock length with room. This is a feasible length-allocation heuristic under the entered assumptions, not a guarantee of the fewest possible boards.
Saw kerf, end trimming and spare stock
Usable stock length equals purchased length minus the entered trim at each stock end. Cut-list mode reserves the entered saw kerf between scheduled pieces sharing one stock length. It does not calculate blade angle, every finishing cut or a workshop cutting sequence. Unallocated length is not promised as a reusable offcut; final offcut separation and finishing can consume material. A piece longer than usable stock is rejected rather than automatically joined. The extra percentage in cut-list mode adds whole spare stock lengths after allocation, not extra installed joints.
Worked skirting quantity example
A 5 m by 4 m rectangular room has an 18 m perimeter. If the actual unskirted openings total 0.9 m, the net is 17.1 m. An entered 10% room-budget allowance makes 18.81 m. At an illustrative 2.4 m usable stock length, the total-length budget rounds to eight lengths. That does not establish a feasible cut layout. For example, two separate finished 1.3 m pieces cannot share a 2.4 m board even though their combined metres divided by stock length can look economical over a larger order.
Skirting board prices and installation costs
Enter the current quote per purchased stock length or per purchased linear metre. Both bases price the full supplied lengths, including end trims and spare stock. Installation per metre uses net room-budget length or finished piece length, not purchased leftovers. Add separately quoted adhesive/fixings, painting, removal, accessories and delivery once. Zero cost lines remain unpriced and no extra VAT is added. When comparing Builders or another South African supplier, use the same profile, material, finish, stock size and quote scope; no live branch prices or specials are assumed.
Use the related calculators
Apply the explanation above with your own figures. Open a calculator below, check every input and review the result assumptions before making a decision.
Frequently asked questions
How much skirting board do I need?
For a rectangular room, start with 2 × (length + width) and subtract actual unskirted openings. Use individual measured pieces for a cutting allocation.
Is the perimeter estimate a guaranteed purchase quantity?
No. It is a total-length budget. Actual piece lengths, joints and cuts can require more stock.
Can I enter several different rooms?
Yes. Room-budget mode supports separate room lines with their own dimensions, deductions and identical-room counts.
What does cut-list mode do?
It allocates entered pieces from longest to shortest into stock lengths, respecting entered end trims and kerf between pieces. It does not guarantee the optimal board count.
Are long pieces joined automatically?
No. A required piece longer than usable stock is rejected. Split it into planned pieces only if an approved joint is part of your layout.