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HardiePlank Siding Calculator

Get an exact HardiePlank board and box count for your walls, tuned to your reveal and plank length.

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Your Measurements

Walls (feet)

Gables / triangles optional

Windows & doors to subtract

Tip: measure each wall's width × height at its widest points. A per-wall audit table appears below so you can check every number.

Enter your walls and press Calculate.
Your siding squares, panels and cost appear here.

Boards, reveal and coverage

HardiePlank is the lap version of James Hardie's fiber cement line, and it's counted in boards. The single number that most affects your count is the reveal — the exposed height of each course. A wider reveal means fewer courses and fewer boards for the same wall; a tighter reveal means more. Once you fix the reveal and the plank length, coverage per board is set and the math falls out.

This calculator uses standard plank coverage by default and converts your net wall area into boards, then into boxes. Adjust the price and waste to match your job and profile.

Net wall area = Σ (wall width × height) + Σ gablesΣ openings Order area = Net area × (1 + waste %) Squares = Order area ÷ 100 Panels = Order area ÷ coverage per panel (rounded up)

Using the tool in five quick moves

You don't need to prep anything special — a tape measure and two minutes will do. Work through it in this order and the estimate builds itself.

  1. Pick the material first. That decides the default coverage, so it's the natural place to start before you type any numbers.
  2. Log every wall separately. Resist the urge to average; different heights and widths each deserve their own line.
  3. Handle the shapes above and the holes within. Triangular gables go in as base and rise; windows and doors come out as size and count.
  4. Dial in waste and pricing. Keep 10% unless the elevation is busy, then nudge it up. Drop in a real per-foot price when you have one.
  5. Take the numbers with you. Print or copy the breakdown and it's ready for the supplier's desk.
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About the accuracy of these results

We'd rather be transparent than falsely precise. The quantity math is deterministic and matches standard takeoff practice, so if your inputs are right, your squares and piece counts are right. Where real-world variation lives — coverage by profile, and installed cost by region and crew — we use typical published figures and present them as ranges. That makes this a strong planning number, not a binding quote; a contractor's field measure remains the final word.

Before you place the order

One figure rarely tells the whole story. Confirm these points and your hardie plank siding estimate becomes an order you can actually place with confidence.

  • Confirm coverage: the default coverage is a planning figure. Check the exact coverage printed on your product's box or spec sheet and adjust it if it differs, since even a small change moves the piece count on a big wall.
  • Match the waste to your walls: keep 10% for a simple rectangular house, and raise it toward 15% for gables, dormers, bay windows and lots of angled cuts, because those details generate short offcuts you can't reuse.
  • Account for accessories: starter strip, trim, inside and outside corners, flashing and fasteners are all part of a complete order, not an afterthought — the takeoff above estimates each so your material list is whole.
  • Keep a spare: hold back a piece or a full box for future repairs, since profiles and colors get discontinued over time and an exact match years later is hard to find.
  • Time your order: have material delivered close to the start date, stored flat and dry, so it isn't sitting exposed or getting damaged before the crew arrives.

Re-run the numbers above after any change and lean on the per-wall audit to verify each surface one at a time, so what you order matches what the wall actually needs rather than a rough guess. That small habit is the difference between one clean delivery and a mid-project trip back to the supplier.

Frequently asked questions

How many boards of HardiePlank do I need?
Divide your coverage area (net area plus waste) by the coverage per board. At about 5.3 sq ft per board, a 2,000 sq ft coverage need is roughly 380 boards. The tool does this for you.
What reveal should I use for HardiePlank?
Common reveals expose 4 to 7 inches of each plank. A wider reveal uses fewer boards; the look is a personal choice. Coverage per square stays constant even as board count changes.
How many planks are in a box?
Around 15 pieces per box is typical, but it varies by length. Check your supplier's box count to convert boards to boxes accurately.
Do I need special fasteners for HardiePlank?
Fiber cement uses corrosion-resistant nails or screws placed per the manufacturer's spec. The accessory list flags fasteners so you don't forget them.

From people who've used it

"Changed the reveal and watched the board count move — helped me pick a look I could afford."

— Carl W., DIY

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