Home Improvement & Repair | Household

About Home Improvement & Repair

Most home projects go over budget because the material estimates are guesses. The calculators in this section give you real numbers for concrete, flooring, deck boards, paint, gravel, and roofing so you order the right quantity the first time. Measure your project, enter length and width or square footage, pick your material, and you'll see how much to buy, how much it will cost, and what typical waste to factor in. Use the square footage calculator as a starting point for any job, and the material-specific calculators when you're ready to buy.

Tools 11

Concrete Calculator Estimate concrete volume in cubic feet and cubic yards based on slab length, width, and depth.

Deck Material Calculator Calculate deck boards, joists, screws, and total material cost from your deck dimensions, board size, and joist spacing.

Fence Material Calculator Calculate how many fence posts, rails, pickets, and bags of concrete you need for any fencing project. Supports wood, chain link, and split rail styles.

Flooring Material Calculator Calculate how much flooring material you need based on room dimensions, flooring type, and waste factor, with an estimated material cost.

Gravel Calculator Estimate gravel volume and tons needed based on length, width, depth, and gravel density.

Greenhouse Size Calculator Estimate greenhouse size from plant counts (leafy, herbs, fruiting, vining) and aisle preference. Outputs total sq ft, m², and recommended hoop, glass, or lean-to dimensions.

Moving Truck Size Calculator Estimate the moving truck size you need from bedrooms, square footage, furnishing density, and heavy items. Picks 10, 15, 17, 20, or 26 ft with a cubic foot estimate.

Paint Coverage Calculator Estimate how many gallons of paint you need based on wall size, coverage, and number of coats.

Roof Material Calculator Calculate roof squares, shingle bundles, underlayment rolls, and total material cost from your home footprint, roof pitch, and material type.

Roof Snow Load Calculator Estimate the weight of snow on your roof to determine if it poses a structural risk to your home.

Square Footage Calculator Calculate square footage, square yards, and square metres based on length and width.

Guides 4

How Much Paint Do You Actually Need? Coverage by Surface A practical answer to how much paint you need: 350 sq ft per gallon for walls, 250 for trim, plus when to add a primer coat and how to convert square footage to gallons.

How to Calculate Flooring Materials Without Overbuying Learn the right waste factor for each flooring type, how to measure odd-shaped rooms, and when transition strips are needed so you buy the right amount of material.

How to Choose a Moving Truck Size: 10, 15, 17, 20, 26 ft Guide A step-by-step procedure for picking a moving truck size from bedroom count and heavy items, with U-Haul, Penske, and Budget capacity tables and a borderline rule of thumb.

How to Plan a Deck Project: Permits, Footings, Materials & Cost Step-by-step guide to planning a deck project: permits, footings, joist span tables, decking material comparison, fastener counts, railing code, and finish schedule.

Printables 2

Project Material Planner Printable planner for project measurements, material estimates, quantities, costs, and supply tracking.

Room Measurement Sheet A printable worksheet for recording room dimensions, sketching floor plans, and noting obstacles before ordering flooring, paint, or other materials.

Frequently asked questions

Which waste factor should I use for flooring and paint?

About 10% for rectangular rooms, 15% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, and 20% for rooms with lots of cuts, closets, or odd shapes. The flooring and roofing calculators let you adjust waste directly so you see the buy quantity change as you tune it.

Do these calculators account for regional price differences?

No. You enter the price per unit (square foot, bag, sheet, bundle) from your local supplier, and the calculator does the multiplication. Pricing varies too much by region and season for us to set a meaningful default.

Can I use these for a commercial or multi-unit project?

Yes for material quantities, but commercial code requirements (stricter snow load, fire ratings, ADA clearances) aren't checked by these residential-focused tools. Use the numbers for planning and confirm code compliance with your permit office or engineer.

What if my room isn't a simple rectangle?

Break it into rectangles, run each through the square footage calculator, then add the results. For rooms with curves or angled walls, approximate with the closest rectangle and add 5-10% to the waste factor.

How accurate are the cost estimates?

The material quantity is usually within 5% of reality if you measure accurately. The cost estimate depends entirely on the per-unit price you enter, so pull real supplier quotes before finalizing a budget.