Getting your measurements right before ordering skirting boards saves time, money, and frustration on site. It's a straightforward process, but there are a few common mistakes that can lead to ordering too little — or too much. Here's how to do it correctly.
What You'll Need
- A tape measure (5m minimum)
- Pencil and paper or a notepad app
- A floor plan sketch (optional but helpful)
Step 1: Sketch the Room
Draw a simple top-down sketch of the room, labelling each wall (A, B, C, D etc.). Note which walls have doors, windows, or alcoves — these will affect your measurements. You don't need to be artistic; a rough rectangle with labels is all you need.
Step 2: Measure Each Wall
Measure the full length of each wall at skirting board height (close to the floor). Write each measurement on your sketch next to the corresponding wall. For walls with doorways, measure the full wall length — you'll deduct the door opening width in the next step.
Step 3: Deduct Openings
For each doorway or archway in a wall, measure the width of the opening and subtract it from the wall length. For example, if a wall is 4,200mm long and has a 900mm doorway, you need 3,300mm of skirting for that wall.
Note: You do not need to deduct for radiators — skirting boards run behind radiators in most installations.
Step 4: Add Up the Total
Add together all the individual wall lengths (after deducting openings) to get your total linear meterage. This is the minimum amount of skirting board you need.
Step 5: Add a Waste Allowance
Always add 10–15% to your total to account for waste from mitre cuts, cope cuts, and any mistakes. For example, if your total is 20 linear metres, order 22–23 metres.
For rooms with lots of corners or complex layouts, add closer to 15%. For simple rectangular rooms, 10% is usually sufficient.
Step 6: Convert to Board Lengths
Our skirting boards come in 3,050mm (approximately 10ft) lengths. Divide your total meterage by 3.05 to find out how many lengths you need, then round up to the nearest whole number.
Example: Total with waste = 23,000mm ÷ 3,050mm = 7.5 lengths → order 8 lengths.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not adding a waste allowance — mitre and cope cuts always create offcuts. Always add 10–15%.
- Measuring at the wrong height — measure at floor level, not at dado or picture rail height.
- Forgetting alcoves — chimney breast alcoves and bay windows add extra wall length that's easy to miss.
- Not accounting for external corners — external corners require two mitred pieces and create more waste than internal corners.
Need Help Calculating?
Use our online calculator at universconstruct.co.uk to get an instant estimate of how many lengths you need. Simply enter your room dimensions and we'll do the maths for you.
Once you have your measurements, browse our full range of moisture-resistant MDF skirting boards at Univers Skirting & Architrave — available in a wide range of profiles and heights, primed or unprimed, delivered across the UK.