How many deck boards for a 12x16 deck?
You need 26 deck boards at 16 ft long.
That is 26 rows across the 12 ft span, or 416 linear feet. Buy 458 linear feet to cover the usual 10% for cuts and defects.
A 12x16 deck by the numbers
| Deck area | 192 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Rows of decking | 26 |
| Board length | 16 ft |
| Boards to buy | 26 |
| Decking | 416 linear ft |
| With 10% waste | 458 linear ft |
| Joists at 16 in on centre | 13 |
| Footings | 9 |
| Deck screws | 924 |
Where that number comes from
- 12 ft across × 12 = 144 in to cover
- 144 ÷ 5.625 = 25.6 rows, rounded up to 26
- 26 rows × 16 ft long = 416 linear feet
- Add 10% for cuts and culls = 458 linear feet
Boards run the length of the deck here, so the 16 ft dimension sets board length and the 12 ft dimension sets how many rows you need. Running them the other way swaps the two numbers.
Working to a different size? The calculator takes any dimensions and returns the same figures.
Cutting a 12x16 out of stock lengths
The 16 ft run lands exactly on a 16 ft board: 26 boards, 26 rows, nothing cut and nothing left over. Why running them the other way changes the order.
Nothing longer divides into 16 ft — the next stock size up is 20 ft, which would leave an offcut too short to use as a row. Buy 26 boards at 16 ft and cut nothing.
Order 458 linear feet, not the bare 416 — about 3 spare rows on a 12x16. What the cull rate covers.
Before you order: getting a decking order right.
Other deck sizes
Deck calculator for any size, or all calculators.