How much architrave do I need for a door?

About 5.2 to 5.3 m per side for a standard 2040 × 820 mm door: two legs and a head. Most doors are done both sides, so about 10.5 m, plus 15% for cutting.

What length does skirting come in?

Finger-jointed pine and MDF skirting and architrave usually come in 5.4 m lengths. Walls longer than that are joined with a scarf joint.

Do I take doorways off the skirting?

Yes, take the door width off for every doorway, but not the architrave width: the skirting runs into the architrave.

How much extra skirting should I buy?

About 10% for skirting and 15% for architrave covers mitres and mistakes. Check the cut list too: short walls often can't share a length, so you may need one more than the percentage says.

Free calculator

Skirting and architrave calculator

Skirting = room perimeter − doorways, + about 10%, ÷ 5.4 m. Architrave per door face = 2 legs (door height + architrave + 5 mm) + a head (door width + 2 architraves + 10 mm), about 5.2 to 5.3 m, + 15%.

Your job

Rooms (skirting)

Room 1

Length

Width

Doorways

Skirting stops at each doorway, at the door width below.

Doors and windows (architrave)

Doors

Door height

Door width

Windows

Window height

Window width

Windows are trimmed on all four sides. Leave windows at 0 if they get a sill instead.

Moulding

Architrave

Quirk

Stock length

Skirting extra

Architrave extra

Pine and MDF mouldings come in 5.4 m lengths. You buy the larger of the two counts: total + extra ÷ length, or the cut list where every leg, head and wall is cut from a real length.

Optional

Your price per metre

Ask your timber or moulding supplier. The greyed number is an example only and is never used in your result.

Skirting runs round the room and stops at the door. Below, every piece cut from a 5.4 m length, offcuts hatched.

Lengths to buy

8lengths

4 skirting + 4 architrave, 5.4 m each

Skirting

4lengths

14.38 m + 10% = 3; cut list 4

Architrave

4lengths

15.75 m + 15% = 4; cut list 3

Per door face

5.19m

Two legs and a head with a 5 mm quirk

The working, with your numbers

1. Skirtingroom perimeters − 1 doorway × 0.820= 14.38 m
2. Door face2 × (2,040 + 67 + 5) + (820 + 2 × 67 + 2 × 5)= 5.188 m
3. Architrave2 door faces + 1 window= 15.75 m
4. Skirting lengthsmax(14.38 × 1.10 ÷ 5.4 = 3, cut list 4)= 4
5. Architrave lengthsmax(15.75 × 1.15 ÷ 5.4 = 4, cut list 3)= 4

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The formula, in plain words

1Skirting = each room's perimeter less a door width for every doorway.
2Architrave, per door face = 2 × (door height + architrave width + quirk) + (door width + 2 × architrave width + 2 × quirk). The quirk is the 5 mm reveal left on the frame.
3Windows trimmed all round take four pieces: two legs and a head and bottom, each the opening plus two architrave widths and two quirks.
4Lengths = total × (1 + wastage) ÷ 5.4 m, rounded up: about 10% extra for skirting, 15% for architrave.
5Cut list: every wall, leg and head is packed into 5.4 m lengths, longest first, offcuts reused. You buy whichever count is larger.

Worked example

A 4 × 3.6 m room with one doorway; the 2040 × 820 door architraved both sides in 67 mm architrave with a 5 mm quirk; one 1200 × 1200 window trimmed all round.

1.Skirting: 15.2 m perimeter − 0.82 m doorway = 14.38 m, + 10% = 15.8 m, so 3 lengths; but the four walls (4, 3.6, 3.6 and 3.18 m) can't share a length, so the cut list needs 4.
2.Door face: 2 × (2.040 + 0.067 + 0.005) + (0.820 + 0.134 + 0.010) = 5.188 m; two faces = 10.38 m.
3.Window: 4 × (1.2 + 0.134 + 0.010) = 5.38 m. Architrave total 15.75 m, + 15% = 18.1 m, so 4 lengths.

Answer: 4 lengths of skirting and 4 of architrave, 5.4 m each.

How to measure it

Measure each room's length and width, and count its doorways.
Note the door size (2040 × 820 mm is standard) and whether both sides get architrave.
Measure each window opening that gets trimmed all round.
Pick your architrave width: 66 to 90 mm suits a standard 2040 mm door.

Where the numbers come from

Every default in the calculator is a number a supplier or manufacturer publishes. We list the source next to it so you can check.

What	Value	Source
Finger-jointed pine and MDF skirting and architrave come in 5.4 m lengths	5.4 m	Intrim Mouldings, Complete Skirting & Architrave Installation Manual (checked 2026-10-01)
Keep a consistent 5 mm quirk between the frame edge and the architrave	5 mm	Intrim Mouldings, Complete Skirting & Architrave Installation Manual (checked 2026-10-01)
One door face (2040 × 820 door, 90 mm architrave): legs (2040 + 90 + 5) × 2 = 4,270 mm, head 820 + 180 + 10 = 1,010 mm, about 5.3 m	5.3 m per face	Intrim Mouldings, Complete Skirting & Architrave Installation Manual (checked 2026-10-01)
Order 10% extra for skirting	10 %	Intrim Mouldings, Timber Moulding Profiles and Sizes Guide (2026) (checked 2026-10-01)
Order 15% extra for architraves	15 %	Intrim Mouldings, Timber Moulding Profiles and Sizes Guide (2026) (checked 2026-10-01)
67 × 18 mm is the most common architrave and skirting size listed, all in 5,400 mm lengths	67 mm	Corinthian Doors, Mouldings (checked 2026-10-01)

Manufacturers named here are the source of the number, not a recommendation. Confirm quantities with your supplier.

Frequently asked questions

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