KerfCalc

Baluster & Spindle Spacing Calculator

Set spindles at a round number and the last gap ends up wrong for the life of the balustrade. This works the other way round: it finds the smallest count whose gap stays under your limit, then divides the run exactly.

Units

Run

Set this from the rules that apply to your job
Unticked: a baluster sits hard against each post

Notes

Why you work backwards from the gap

The gap is what people see and what usually has a maximum. So you fix the maximum, find the smallest number of spindles that respects it, and let the actual gap land wherever it lands — evenly.

Gaps and safety limits

Balustrade gap limits vary by country and by where the balustrade is. Set the maximum yourself from whatever applies to your job — this tool does not know your local rules and does not pretend to.

Setting out on site

Mark centres, not gaps. Measuring gap to gap accumulates error and the last spindle ends up visibly off. Every centre in the table is measured from the same end.

What this does not do

It lays out a straight run between two posts. Curved runs, rake sections and transitions each need their own setting out.