Room Dimensions
Room Length (ft) Width (ft) Doors Include
Pricing & Extras
Each window adds ~12 LF
Results
Total Linear Footage Needed
0
linear feet
0
Baseboard LF
0
Door Casing LF
0
Window Casing LF
0
Pieces to Buy
0
Nail Boxes (1 lb)
$0
Total Cost
Pieces needed 0 pcs
Molding length per piece 12 ft
Price per LF $1.75
Estimated Cost $0.00
Nail estimate: 1 nail per 16" ≈ 0 nails → 0 box(es) of 1 lb (~300 nails)
Baseboard LF per Room
Room Summary Table
| Room | L × W (ft) | Perimeter (LF) | Doors | Deduction (LF) | Net LF |
|---|
Common Trim Profiles
| Profile | Typical Height | Style | Typical Price ($/LF) | Best Applications | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial | 3.5" – 5.5" | Traditional | $1.50 – $3.00 | Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms | S-curved profile with multiple layers; the most common residential style |
| Craftsman / Mission | 3.5" – 5.5" | Arts & Crafts | $1.75 – $3.50 | Bungalows, open-plan homes, modern farmhouse | Flat face with routed top edge; pairs with square door casings |
| Ranch / Sanitary | 2.5" – 3.5" | Modern / Minimal | $0.90 – $1.75 | Contemporary homes, utility rooms, basements | Simple single-step profile; easy to paint; lowest cost option |
| Clamshell | 2.5" – 3.25" | Classic | $0.80 – $1.50 | Apartments, rental properties, budget renovations | Single curved profile; one of the most economical and widely available |
| Ogee / Classic | 4.25" – 7" | Victorian / Period | $2.00 – $5.00 | Victorian homes, formal rooms, high-end renovations | Elaborate S-curve with multiple reveals; requires careful corner work |
| Shoe Molding | 0.75" – 1" | Supplemental | $0.50 – $1.00 | Covers floor-to-baseboard gap on all flooring types | Quarter-round or shoe profile; nail to baseboard, not floor |
| Cove / Cap | 0.75" – 2" | Supplemental | $0.60 – $1.50 | Top of baseboard as cap molding; cabinet interiors | Concave profile; softens the transition to the wall |
Height Selection Guide
| Ceiling Height | Recommended Baseboard |
|---|---|
| 8 ft (standard) | 3.5" – 4.5" |
| 9 ft | 4.5" – 5.5" |
| 10 ft+ | 5.5" – 7" |
| Rooms with crown molding | Match baseboard height to crown height (±0.5") |
Material Options
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Finger-joint pine | Economical, paintable | Must be painted; shows joints |
| Clear pine / poplar | Smooth surface, stainable | Higher cost than FJ |
| MDF | No grain, crisp paint finish | Heavy; vulnerable to moisture |
| PVC / foam | Moisture-proof, zero rot | Harder to nail; looks less authentic |
| Hardwood (oak, maple) | Premium look, stainable | Expensive; difficult to miter |
Inside Corners: Cope, Don't Miter
For inside corners, use a coped joint rather than two 45° miters. Run the first piece square to the wall. On the second piece, cut a 45° inside miter, then follow the profile with a coping saw to create a negative of the first piece's face. Coped joints stay tight as the wood expands and contracts; butt miters open up over time.
Outside Corners: 45° Miters
Outside corners get two 45° miter cuts. Dry-fit both pieces first. If the corner isn't perfectly square, use a bevel gauge to find the actual angle and split the difference between the two cuts. Glue the joint, nail both pieces, and hold them together with blue tape while the glue sets. Sand flush once dry.
Nail Placement & Spacing
Use 2" (15 gauge) or 2.5" finish nails for 3/4" thick baseboard. Nail into wall studs (typically 16" on center) near the top and bottom of the baseboard. Pre-drill near ends to prevent splitting. Set nails slightly below the surface with a nail set, then fill holes with spackling or colored putty before painting.
Shoe Molding & Floor Gaps
If your floor has an uneven surface or there's a gap under the baseboard, add shoe molding (quarter-round or a flat shoe profile). Always nail shoe molding to the baseboard, never to the floor. This allows the floor to expand and contract beneath it without buckling. Shoe molding should follow the floor profile, not the wall.
Caulking & Filling Gaps
After nailing, run a bead of paintable latex caulk along the top edge where baseboard meets the wall, and along the bottom where it meets the floor (if no shoe molding). Smooth with a wet finger or caulk tool. Fill nail holes with spackling. Allow to fully dry before priming — caulk shrinks as it cures and may need a second thin pass.
Painting Order
Prime all trim before installation if possible — it's much faster than painting in place. After installation and caulking, apply two topcoats with a semi-gloss or gloss finish for easy cleaning. Paint walls first, then do the final trim coat. Use a 2.5" angled sash brush and steady hand, or apply blue tape to protect walls. Remove tape immediately after painting while wet.
Door & Window Casings
Casings typically use the same profile as the baseboard. Standard reveal: leave 3/16" of the door jamb edge exposed before the casing. For doorways, cut two side pieces (leg casings) and one top piece (head casing). Use a 45° miter at the corners or a plinth block at the base. Each doorway uses approximately 17 LF of casing material total (both sides).
Order Enough — Buy in One Batch
Molding profiles can be discontinued or dye-lots can shift between production runs. Always order 10–15% more than calculated, and buy it all in one trip from the same stock. Store extra pieces in a dry, flat location. For large projects spanning multiple rooms, have all molding delivered at once so profiles and wood tones are consistent throughout.
Quick Reference: Common Measurements
| Item | Standard Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Door opening deduction | 3 LF per door | Single door; 6 LF for double door |
| Door casing per doorway | ~17 LF | Both sides + header (~7ft sides × 2 + ~3ft header × 2) |
| Window casing per window | ~12 LF | Standard 3 ft × 4 ft window, both sides + sill + head |
| Nail spacing | 16" on center | Into studs; 1 nail per 16" = 0.75 nails/LF |
| Nails per 1-lb box | ~300 nails | 15 gauge 2" finish nails |
| Caulk tube coverage | ~30–40 LF | 1 tube per ~35 LF of baseboard |
| Primer coverage | ~350 sq ft/quart | 1 qt typically covers 1 room; buy extra for two coats |