Design & Price a Wood Slat Divider for a Vaulted Ceiling
For a ceiling that slopes — level along the floor, angled overhead. Enter the height at the low end, the height at the high end and the width between them, and the designer sizes every slat, works out which ones need an extension, and nests those extensions out of 9 ft slats so you buy fewer of them. Heights up to 12 ft.
Not sure how to measure? See the measuring guide →
How a sloped-ceiling divider works
A vaulted divider is square at the floor and angled at the top. The slats stand on a level line, while their top ends follow the pitch of the ceiling, so every slat in the run is a different length. The designer takes your two ceiling heights and the width between them, derives the ceiling slope, and works out each slat's height individually.
Above a certain height a slat can't be made from a single piece, so the run is built in two parts: a main slat at a standard length, plus an extension where the ceiling is higher than that. The results panel counts both, along with the extension hardware that joins them.
Main slat length and the extension line
Choosing 8 ft, 9 ft or 10 ft sets what the designer calls the extension line, and it's the decision that drives your total. Slats taller than the line get an extension; slats shorter than it ship at that length and are cut down on site.
The practical rule: pick the length that sits nearest the top of your run, and fewer slats need extending. Pick short, and you'll add extension pieces and extension hardware to most of the run. The results update as soon as you change it, so it's worth trying all three against your own dimensions before deciding.
Reading the extension cut plan
Under the results you'll find Extension cut plan — how each 9ft slat is cut. Each bar in it is one 9 ft slat; the coloured segments are extension pieces taken out of it and the grey is offcut. Because several extensions nest into a single slat, you buy noticeably fewer 9 ft slats than the extension count alone would suggest — that nesting is where the saving on a sloped run comes from.
Extensions are cut on site from the 9 ft slats in your order, following the plan — the 4″ cutting allowance is already built into each segment. Your custom sloped brackets ship ready to install. The order code under the estimate is saved with your order so the exact cut list can be reproduced if you add to the run later.
How to measure
- Short side height — floor to ceiling at the lowest point of the run.
- Long side height — floor to ceiling at the highest point. Maximum 144″ (12 ft).
- Width — the horizontal distance between those two points.
- Gap — the visible space you want between slats. Center-to-center spacing is 2″ plus this gap.
Those two heights are what set the pitch of every slat in between, so measure them at the line the divider will actually stand on, not at the nearest wall. If the slope changes partway — a ceiling that breaks to flat, for instance — treat each straight section as its own divider and price them separately.
See also: finding plumb points, vaulted and sloped ceilings and how many slats do I need?
Cutting and installing on site
Slats below the extension line ship at the main slat length and are cut down on site to their finished height — the estimate lists what each one should be. Extensions are cut on site too, from the 9 ft slats in your order, following the extension cut plan. The angled top meets the ceiling on custom sloped brackets matched to the ceiling slope shown in your results, so each slat stands plumb against the pitch.
Finishes and slat profiles
Available in Walnut, Dark Walnut, White Oak, Unfinished/Stainable and Paintable MDF, in three profiles: 2″ × 4″ standard, 2″ × 5″ mid and 2″ × 6″ bold. On a tall sloped run a wider profile holds the eye at the high end; a narrower one keeps the pitch line light. Order a sample before you commit to a finish — screens never get wood colour right.
Questions about vaulted ceiling dividers
How high can the tall side be?
Up to 144″ (12 ft). Anything above your chosen main slat length is made up with an extension cut from a 9 ft slat.
Which main slat length should I choose?
The one nearest the top of your run. A longer main slat means fewer slats need an extension and less extension hardware; a shorter one puts an extension on most of the run. Change the setting and the estimate updates, so compare all three.
Do I cut the slats, or do you?
You do. The cut plan provides guidance on how to cut extensions from a slat on site.
What is the extension cut plan for?
It shows which extension pieces come out of each 9 ft slat. Several nest into one slat, which is why the number of 9 ft slats you buy is lower than the number of extensions in your run.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes, 12 main slats. If your dimensions work out to fewer, the estimate rounds up to the minimum.
My ceiling is flat but the floor follows stairs — is this the right page?
No — use the staircase designer, which angles the bottom of the run instead of the top. For a level floor and a level ceiling, use the fixed designer.
