Rail Moulding Guide: Chair Rail Height & Kits
Rail moulding is the horizontal trim that runs along a wall at a fixed height. The two you will hear about are the chair rail, around one third up the wall, and the picture rail, just below the ceiling for hanging art.
Chair rail vs picture rail vs dado rail
Chair rail and dado rail are the same thing (US vs UK naming): a rail at 32 to 36 inches that protects the wall from chair backs. Picture rail sits 12 to 18 inches below the ceiling and was used to hang frames from hooks.
Rail plus panels
A rail alone splits the wall in two. Add frames below it (wainscoting) or above and below (two-row picture frame) for a fully panelled look, as in the layouts below.
Rail height by ceiling
| Ceiling | Chair rail | Picture rail |
|---|---|---|
| 8 ft (244 cm) | 32 to 36 in (81 to 91 cm) | about 7 ft (213 cm) |
| 9 ft (274 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | about 8 ft (244 cm) |
| 10 ft (305 cm) | 36 to 42 in (91 to 107 cm) | about 8 ft 6 in (259 cm) |
Example layouts with real measurements
10 ft wall, 9 ft ceiling
On a 10 ft wall use 4 wainscoting frames, each 2' 1.5" (65 cm) wide and 2' 1" (64 cm) tall, spaced 3.5" (9 cm) apart under a chair rail at 3' (91 cm). Total about 49 linear ft with waste.
12 ft wall, 9 ft ceiling
On a 12 ft wall use 5 wainscoting frames, each 2' 0.5" (62 cm) wide and 2' 1" (64 cm) tall, spaced 3.5" (9 cm) apart under a chair rail at 3' (91 cm). Total about 59 linear ft with waste.
Common questions
Is a chair rail the same as a dado rail?
Yes. Chair rail is the US term and dado rail the UK term for the same horizontal moulding at about one third of the wall height.
Should a chair rail line up with window sills?
If your sills are between 30 and 40 inches, line the rail up with them; it looks intentional. If not, keep the rail at one third of the wall height.
Can a chair rail go on its own?
Yes, a rail alone works for a two-color wall. Adding panels under it turns it into wainscoting and makes the rail look like part of a design rather than a stripe.
Get it pre-cut
Every Trim Wall Haus kit ships pre-cut, mitered and numbered, factory primed and ready to paint.
- Chair Rail Wall Molding Kit, from $165
- Chair Rail Half Wall Wainscoting Kit, from $39
- Board and Batten Half Wall Paneling Kit, from $31
Shop all chair rail moulding · Plan your wall free
Measured layouts: 10 ft wainscoting wall, 9 ft ceiling · 12 ft wainscoting wall, 9 ft ceiling · all sizes