DOCK & MARINEDECKING FIELD GUIDE
Planning & field resources

Dock material calculator

Plan straight, L-shaped and T-shaped dock layouts, compare board direction and borders, and download a transparent material schedule.

VISUAL DOCK TAKEOFF

Draw the footprint. See the quantities.

All starting measurements are examples. Notes can be carried between tools in this browser tab when you choose to save them.

Platform width must be at least walkway width. Borders reduce field coverage; corner cuts and stock lengths still need reconciliation.

straight-shaped dock layout160 square feet. Colored zones show field decking and board direction. Diagram is schematic; displayed stripes are not individual board counts.Walkway Overall: 8 ft × 20 ftGold dashes = candidate joints, not support details
160 sq ft surface374 planning linear ft

Your material schedule

Planning quantities, not an order or cut-optimized board count
ItemRowsRunLinear ft
Walkway field1720 ft340
Border blanks, outside-edge basis0
Your allowance34
Planning total374
Geometry, borders and exclusions

Each field rectangle uses rows = ceiling((crosswise width × 12 + gap) / (board width + gap)). Linear feet = rows × board-run length. A perimeter border insets the field by one board width plus its side gap. L and T layouts join non-overlapping zones. Border blanks use the outside perimeter as a conservative layout basis; corners are not cut-optimized.

Supports, hardware, rails, fascia, stairs, end gaps, accepted end-joint details, stock lengths and cut reuse are excluded. Stripes show direction, not every board. Joint markers do not establish support locations or approve continuous joints across rows. Final rows can require ripping. Confirm the actual layout and product instructions before ordering.

Custom non-overlapping rectangles: original calculator
THE DOCK PLANNER

Your measurements.
A clearer material brief.

Change the example inputs to match your project. Inputs clear on reload. Use the material-request button to carry a copy of the brief in this browser tab.

Decking zones

Split the surface into non-overlapping rectangles. Boards run along each zone’s length. Dimensions are in feet.

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All defaults are illustrative, including gap and allowance. Obtain the actual board dimensions and installation spacing for the selected product and site. Limits here are calculator input limits, not engineering limits.

How the quantities are calculated

For each rectangle, rows = round up ((width in feet × 12 + gap in inches) ÷ (actual board width + gap)). This assumes a gap between rows and no perimeter gap. Net linear feet = rows × board-run length. The allowance is added after summing all zones.

The final row may need ripping. This does not optimize cuts or stock lengths, or include picture-frame borders, end gaps, stairs, fascia, framing, fasteners, or unusable offcuts. A supplier should reconcile the brief with a cut plan and the actual product before ordering.

CONTACT THE DOCK TEAM

Let’s talk about your project.

Your message and any attached project brief go to our sales team. Choose a material quote or a general question below.

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CONNECTED GUIDANCE

Continue your project

  1. 01Dock decking board spacing
  2. 02From dock measurements to a material takeoff
  3. 03Request dock materials