Cedar Board and Batten Siding: Sizes, Nailing and Cost

Cedar board and batten siding (also called cedar batten board siding) is vertical siding made of wide cedar boards with narrow strips, the battens, nailed over the gaps between them. It gives a house a strong vertical, farmhouse look, and cedar resists rot and insects better than most softwoods. Installed cost runs roughly $6 to $16 per square foot according to cost guides we checked in October 2026, depending on the grade of cedar and the finish.

Typical sizes

Part	Common nominal size	Notes
Boards	1x8, 1x10 or 1x12	Wider boards mean fewer battens and a bolder look
Battens	1x2 or 1x3	Should overlap each board by at least 1/2 inch
Gap between boards	about 1/2 inch	Lets boards swell without buckling

Rough-sawn cedar takes stain well and suits rustic designs. Smooth (surfaced) cedar is better for paint. "Knotty" grades cost less; "clear" grades have few or no knots and cost much more.

Nailing so the wood can move

Wood swells and shrinks across its width with humidity, and a wide board moves more than a narrow one. The classic rule is that nothing should pin a board on both edges:

• Boards: nail once per support, near the center of the board (or two nails close together near the center on very wide boards).
• Battens: nail through the gap between boards, so the nail doesn't go through either board.

Done this way, each board can move freely under its battens. Nail both edges of a 12-inch board and it will split or cup.

Use stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized nails. Cedar contains natural extractives that react with plain steel and leave black streaks.

Vertical siding needs horizontal backing

Wall studs run vertically, the same direction as the boards, so you need something horizontal to nail into: horizontal furring strips, blocking between studs, or a thick structural sheathing that the siding maker approves for nailing. Furring strips over a water-resistive barrier also create a rainscreen gap behind the siding, which lets the back of the boards dry. It's one of the best things you can do for any wood siding.

Finishing

• Prime or seal all sides, including ends and backs, before installing. Back-priming slows moisture from cupping the boards.
• Stain (semi-transparent or solid) shows off cedar's texture and is easier to refresh than paint.
• Paint works best on smooth boards with a stain-blocking primer, because cedar's tannins can bleed through.
• Bare cedar weathers to silver-gray. It looks great on some houses but ages unevenly where some walls get more sun and rain.

Cost

Item	Range (national, October 2026)
Installed cedar board and batten	about $6 to $16 per sq ft
Knotty cedar material	lower end
Clear heartwood cedar	much higher, sometimes $10+ per sq ft for material alone

Labor, the height of the walls and finishing choices move the price a lot. Get quotes that specify the cedar grade, board width, nail type and whether boards will be primed on all sides.

Board and batten vs. bevel siding

Board and batten runs vertically and has a bold shadow line every 8 to 12 inches. Cedar bevel siding runs horizontally with overlapping tapered boards and a classic clapboard look. Many houses mix the two, with board and batten on gables and bevel siding below.