How Much Skirting Board Do I Need?
Quick Answer
A 4m × 3m room needs ~12.5m of skirting after deducting doors
Based on: room perimeter of 14m, minus one standard doorway (~830mm opening), plus 10% for cutting waste
How We Calculated This
Skirting board runs along the base of every wall, minus door openings:
- Room perimeter: (4 + 3) × 2 = 14m
- Deduct 1 door opening: 14 − 0.83 = 13.17m
- Deduct 2nd door (if applicable): 13.17 − 0.83 = ~12.34m
- Add 10% cutting waste: 12.34 × 1.1 = ~13.6m
- Skirting sold in lengths: typically 2.4m, 3.0m, or 4.2m
Standard UK Skirting Sizes
- Height: 44mm, 68mm, 94mm, 119mm, 144mm, 168mm, 219mm
- Thickness: 15mm or 18mm (MDF), 19mm or 25mm (softwood)
- Most popular: 94mm or 119mm height in a torus, ogee, or chamfered profile
Material Options
- MDF (primed): Cheapest, smooth finish, easy to cut. ~£1–3/m.
- Softwood (pine): Traditional, can be stained or painted. ~£2–5/m.
- Hardwood (oak): Premium, natural finish. ~£5–15/m.
- Moisture-resistant MDF: For kitchens and bathrooms. ~£2–4/m.
Quick Reference by Room Size
- Small bedroom (3 × 2.5m, 1 door): ~10m
- Double bedroom (4 × 3.5m, 1 door): ~14m
- Living room (5 × 4m, 2 doors): ~16m
- Kitchen-diner (6 × 3.5m, 2 doors): ~17m
- Hallway (varies): Measure each wall section individually
Tips
Measure each wall individually and note the door positions. Use a mitre saw for internal and external corners (45° cuts). For internal corners on MDF skirting, scribing (cutting one piece to fit against the profile of the other) gives a neater finish than mitring. Fix with adhesive and panel pins, or screws if walls are uneven. Fill any gaps with decorator’s caulk before painting.