Vertical wall panel guide
Count runs using installed cover width, rather than nominal panel width.
Back to calculator ↑Measure and prepare
Measure each wall width and height. A 2.7 m stock panel must span the example 2.4 m wall. Calculate walls of different heights separately.
Measure the cladding run width and finished height from its actual start and end, allowing for any trims that change the cut height. Record sockets and openings and check whether the wall is plumb. If stock length is shorter than the required full-height run, the calculator asks for a different length because a horizontal joint needs its own design.
How the estimate works
Divide wall width by each panel’s effective installed coverage after its joint overlap and round up to full vertical runs. Add the extra panel percentage and round up again.
The 4 m wall divided by 0.2 m installed cover gives 20 full runs; 10% extra gives 22 panels. Dividing 9.6 m² of wall by nominal panel area could undercount because joints overlap and each run needs a full 2.4 m height. A 2.7 m panel leaves a 0.3 m length offcut that normally cannot replace a full-height run.
Check the order
Confirm installed cover width, end trims, corner profiles, colour and batch. Horizontal installation requires a different cutting plan.
Use the product’s installed cover width, not raw width. Confirm vertical orientation and whether the system requires battens, adhesive or clips. Count end trims and corner profiles separately and keep the same finish batch. Directional grain or printed patterns can increase waste because offcuts cannot always be turned around.
Limits of the estimate
Openings, pattern matching, uneven walls and short offcut reuse are not modelled by one total width.
The count assumes equal-height runs and does not reuse short sections around doors or windows. It is an initial order for a plain wall. Calculate zones of different heights separately, then ask the installer to combine their cut list so reusable offcuts are credited rather than buying them twice. Mark outlets, switches and cover plates before cutting. A wrongly pierced panel usually cannot be reversed or substituted for another full-height run.
Common questions
Use nominal panel width?
Only when it equals the visible installed coverage after joining.
What if the panel is too short?
Choose a longer product or have the installer design a joint; the tool flags the length.
Is framing included?
No. It counts cladding panels only.
Sources and calculation guidance
Check these against your chosen product’s label and instructions.