How much baseboard trim do I need?

Baseboard is sold by the linear foot, usually in 8, 12 or 16-foot lengths. You need the room's perimeter minus the doorways.

Linear feet = perimeter − door widths, plus 10%Then divide by the board length and round up.

1. Find the perimeter

Add the length of every wall. A 12×14 room has a perimeter of 2 × (12 + 14) = 52 feet.

2. Subtract doorways

Baseboard stops at door openings. A standard interior door is about 3 feet wide. With one door: 52 − 3 = 49 feet.

3. Add 10% for cuts

Corners are cut at angles and you'll lose a little at every joint. 49 × 1.10 = about 54 feet.

4. Convert to boards

Board length	Boards for 54 ft
8 ft	7
12 ft	5
16 ft	4

Longer boards mean fewer seams on long walls, which looks cleaner. Shorter boards are easier to carry and fit in a car.

Don't forget quarter round

If you're installing new flooring, you may also need quarter round or shoe molding to cover the expansion gap. It uses the same linear footage as the baseboard.

What you'll need

Baseboard molding · Brad nailer · Miter box · Caulk

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