DIY Project Calculators and Building Material Estimator
Pick a project to get a full materials list with cost, or jump straight to one of 92 calculators.
Project material estimator
Pick a project and its size for a full materials list with cost. Every number comes from the matching calculator.
20 x 12 ft deck
About $3,400
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Decking boards, 20 ft, 5.5" wide | 29 (27 + 2 spare) · Pressure-treated or composite |
| 2x10 pressure-treated joists | 16 at 12 ft |
| Pressure-treated beam stock, 12 ft | 4 · 2-ply 2x10 beam on each post line (IRC R507.5) |
| 6x6 posts, ground contact | 4 · 6x6 is required by many codes |
| Joist hangers and hanger nails | 32 hangers · Use the hardware's rated fasteners |
| Exterior deck screws | 13 lb · Or hidden fasteners for composite |
| Concrete mix, 80 lb | 22 bags |
| Joist tape (optional) | 4 rolls · Protects tops of joists from water |
Mid-range pricing. Waste is included in the quantities. Need more detail? Open the deck calculator or add another material from the list below.
Project plan · built from your numbers
20 x 12 ft deck
A 240 sq ft deck framed with 16 2x10 joists at 16 in on center over 4 posts, decked with 27 boards 5.5 in wide. Plan assumes a low deck; attached or tall decks need a permit and inspected footings.
- Materials
- $3,400
- Time
- 2 weekends
- Level
- Advanced
8 steps 9 tools 8 materials
- 1
Permit, design, and utility locate
Most towns require a permit for a deck over 30 in high or attached to the house, with footing and framing inspections. Draw your 20 x 12 ft plan, confirm joist span tables for 2x10 at 16 in, and call 811.
- Apply for a permit if required
- Check span tables for your lumber
- 811 utility locate
- 2
Lay out and square
Set batter boards and strings for the outline. Square the corners with 3-4-5 and match the diagonals. Mark the post locations along each beam line.
- Strings at finished height
- Diagonals equal
- Mark 4 footing locations
- 3
Dig and pour footings
Dig 4 holes below frost depth, or to the depth your permit specifies, and pour the footings (22 bags in all) with post bases set in the wet concrete. Schedule a footing inspection before the pour if required.
- Holes below frost line
- Footing inspection if required
- Post bases aligned to the string
01 · Your numbers
- Deck area
- 240 sq ft
- Decking boards
- 29 (20 ft)
- Joists
- 16 @ 16"
- Est. cost
- $3,400
02 · The plan
8 steps · 9 tools · 8 materials
5 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.
03 · Finished
Your plan is 60% built. Save it.
3/520 x 12 ft deck
Finished in 2 weekends · $3,400 DIY
Built for your deck area of 240 sq ft. Your first plan saves free. No card needed.
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Budget the tools
A building material calculator for every trade, grouped by material. Every one gives instant quantities and cost with waste factored in. No account, no signup.
Paint & Wallcoverings
Paint Calculator
Gallons and quarts for walls, ceiling, trim and primer, with cost, for one room or several
Wallpaper Calculator
Determine rolls needed based on room size and pattern repeat
Wallpaper Pattern Repeat Calculator
Calculate rolls needed factoring in pattern repeats
Epoxy Floor Calculator
Epoxy kits, flakes, topcoat and etch for a garage or basement floor
Drywall
Flooring & Tile
Trim, Cabinets & Woodworking
Crown Molding Calculator
Calculate linear feet and cutting angles for crown molding installation
Trim & Baseboard Calculator
Calculate interior trim, baseboards, and molding materials
Cabinet Hardware Calculator
Knob and pull placement, pull size and a printable drill template
Compound Miter Calculator
Miter and bevel saw settings for crown, trim and splayed boxes, plus a printable angle chart
Plywood Sheet Cut Calculator
Cut list optimizer: a cutting diagram for every plywood, MDF or melamine sheet, with kerf, grain and cost
Linear Cut Optimizer
Fit a list of board cuts into stock lengths with kerf, end trim, waste and cost
Wood Movement Calculator
Seasonal expansion by species and grain, with panel gaps and breadboard slots
Cabinet Door Calculator
Door sizes for overlay, inset or lipped doors, plus a rail, stile and panel cut list
Golden Ratio Calculator
Find the golden partner of any measurement, or check whether your dimensions are golden
Wainscoting and Board and Batten Calculator
Even panel layout, a scaled diagram and a material list
Concrete & Masonry
Concrete Calculator
Cubic yards, bags and cost for slabs, footings, walls, columns, stairs and curbs
Concrete Slab Calculator
Draw any slab shape and get a full materials list, tools, cost, and step-by-step plan
Slab Designer
Draw grades, footings, pipes, anchors and joints, then print draft sheets for your building department
Concrete Stairs Calculator
Estimate concrete, rebar, forms, and steps for poured concrete stairs
Concrete Column Calculator
Concrete, bags, rebar cage and forms for round, square or rectangular columns
Concrete Footing Calculator
Wall, stem wall, pad and pier footings: concrete, bags, rebar and sizing
Gravel Calculator (Tons and Cubic Yards)
Tons, cubic yards and cost for any gravel or stone, any shape, with driveway layers and truck loads
Brick Calculator
Bricks, mortar bags, sand and cost for walls, fire pits, steps and patios, by brick size
Concrete Mix Calculator
Cement, sand, gravel and water for any mix ratio or PSI, plus premix bag counts
Foundation Load & Footing Size Calculator
Size footings from building loads and soil bearing capacity, plus shed anchoring
Fireplace Clearance Calculator
Mantel height, hearth extension and side trim clearances under IRC R1001
Masonry Estimator: Brick, Block & Mortar
Bricks or blocks, mortar bags by type, sand, grout and rebar for a wall
Sonotube Concrete Calculator
Bags per tube and cubic yards for stock tube sizes, mixed sizes and flared bases, with bags vs ready-mix cost
Footing Rebar Calculator
Rebar count, lap splices and weight for continuous footings
Paver Patio Calculator
Pavers by pattern, base stone, bedding sand, polymeric sand and edging for any patio
Retaining Wall Calculator
Blocks, caps, base gravel and drainage for a block wall, with a height check
Driveway Calculator
Asphalt tons, gravel layers, concrete yards and sealer gallons for a driveway
Block Core Fill Calculator
Grout or concrete to fill concrete block cores, in yards and bags
Slab Rebar and Mesh Calculator
Rebar grid bars each way, sticks, chairs and ties, or wire mesh sheets
Framing & Lumber
Framing Designer
Stand walls on a slab, auto-frame every stud and header, add a roof and bracing, then print a draft permit set for a shed, workshop or garage
Lumber Calculator
Board feet and cost for a list of boards, a wall framing takeoff and a stock-length buy list
Wall Framing Calculator
Studs, plates, header starting sizes and a cut list for one wall
Floor Joist and Rafter Calculator
Estimated joist and rafter spans, rafter length and birdsmouth cut
Shed Cost Calculator
Line-by-line materials cost to build a shed, with a low and high range
Board Foot Calculator
Board feet from thickness, width, length and quantity, with cost
Decks, Fences & Yard
Deck Calculator
Full deck material list: boards, joists, beams, posts, concrete, railing and cost
Garden Planner
Lay out beds and paths, choose what to plant where, and get seed counts, materials and a planting schedule
Fence Designer
Draw your fence and get posts, materials, a stake-out sheet and a draft permit packet
Fence Calculator
Determine posts, rails, pickets, and materials for any fence project
Mulch Calculator (Yards and Bags)
Cubic yards and bags of mulch, soil or stone for several beds, circles and tree rings
Deck Beam Span Calculator
Determine beam sizes and footing dimensions for deck structure
Fence Picket Spacing Calculator
Calculate perfect equal spacing between fence pickets
Deck Footing Size Calculator
Load per footing and footing diameter by soil bearing capacity
Deck and Fence Stain Calculator
Gallons of stain by surface, coats and wood condition
Wheelchair Ramp Calculator
Ramp length, landings and slope from your rise, checked against ADA geometry
Stairs
Stair Calculator
Rise and run, stringer length and angle, landings, deck stairs, code checks and a cut list
Stair Stringer Calculator
Stringer layout with a to-scale diagram, framing square marks, throat, headroom and a cut list
Baluster Spacing Calculator
Even on-center baluster layout with gaps checked against the 4 inch sphere rule
Roofing & Gutters
Roofing Calculator
Squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, ridge cap, drip edge and cost, with the true pitch multiplier and waste
Gutter Cost Calculator
Estimate gutter cost, materials, downspouts, and hardware for your home
Amerimax Gutter Calculator
Parts list for a DIY sectional gutter install: sections, hangers, connectors, corners, outlets and downspouts
Rain Gutter & Downspout Sizing
Size gutters and downspouts based on roof area and rainfall
Ice and Water Shield Calculator
Rolls and courses for eaves and valleys, with the reach measured up the slope
Metal Roofing Calculator
Panel count, cut length, trim and fasteners for exposed fastener or standing seam
Roof Snow Load Calculator
Estimated psf of snow on a roof from ground load, exposure and pitch
Insulation, Solar & Energy
Insulation Calculator
Rolls, bags, depth and cost for attics, walls and floors, matched to your climate zone
Energy Savings Calculator
Calculate ROI and payback period for energy efficiency upgrades
Solar Panel Calculator
Solar estimate by ZIP and monthly bill: system size, panels, installed vs DIY cost, payback and 25-year savings
Wall R-Value Calculator
Calculate effective thermal resistance with thermal bridging
Windows & Doors
Electrical
Voltage Drop Calculator
Voltage drop and wire size for 120V, 240V, 3-phase and low-voltage DC runs
Electrical Load Calculator
Calculate residential electrical service requirements using NEC methods
Electrical Box Fill Calculator
Box volume from conductors, devices, clamps and grounds, checked against NEC 314.16
Plumbing & Water
Tankless Water Heater Size Calculator
GPM from your fixtures and groundwater by ZIP, then gas BTU or electric kW, amps and breakers
Sump Pump Size Calculator
GPM from a pit test or your basement, total head, horsepower from pump curves, basin size and backup power
Septic Tank Size Calculator
Tank size by bedrooms, existing tank volume, drain field area by soil and your pumping schedule
French Drain Calculator
Drain rock, pipe, filter fabric and total fall for a French drain trench
Pipe Volume Calculator
Gallons, litres and water weight in any length of pipe
Flow Rate Calculator
GPM from a bucket test or pipe velocity, and time to fill a tank
HVAC & Fireplaces
Refrigerant Line Sizing Calculator
Liquid and suction line sizes, extra charge per foot and a chart for R-410A, R-32 and R-454B
Ductwork Sizing Calculator
Size ductwork based on CFM requirements and velocity
AC and Furnace Sizing Calculator
Rough BTU, tonnage and heat-loss estimate to check a contractor's sizing
Tools & Garage
Planning
Exterior & Pool
Pool Chemical Calculator
Chlorine, pH, alkalinity, algaecide and clarifier doses for any pool, in gallons or litres
Siding Calculator
Squares for vinyl, lap and board and batten, with openings deducted and trim counted
Sod, Seed and Topsoil Calculator
Sod rolls and pallets, seed by grass type and topsoil yards for a new lawn
Pond Volume and Liner Calculator
Pond gallons, liner size, pump flow and digging volume
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How to use these calculators
Pick the trade above, enter your measurements, and each calculator returns the quantities to buy with a standard waste factor, plus a rough cost. Most jobs need more than one: a deck takes the beam span, footing and decking calculators together, and a bathroom takes tile, drywall and paint.
Every result can become a project plan with steps and a shopping list. If you would rather start from a description than from numbers, plan any project with AI. For code tables and quick references, see the cheat sheets.
How we calculate
- Quantities round up to what you can buy: whole boxes, bags, sheets, rolls and boards.
- Waste is set per material and pattern and shown in the result, never hidden.
- Structural and code numbers come from published tables: IRC R507 deck spans, NEC Chapter 9 and 310.16 for wire, IECC 2021 for insulation, and the USDA Wood Handbook for wood movement.
- Every calculator shows its formula, and every number on its page comes from the same code as the calculator.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate building materials for a project?
Measure the area or length, pick the material, and add a waste factor. The project estimator above does it for a whole deck, fence, slab or room in one step; each calculator goes deeper on one material.
How much waste should I add?
About 5 to 10% for paint, drywall and lumber, 10% for straight-laid flooring and tile, 15 to 20% for diagonal or herringbone patterns, and 10% for concrete. Each calculator builds in the right factor and shows it.
Are the DIY calculators free to use?
Yes. All 92 calculators are free with no account, card or trial, and no usage limit.
Do the calculators work in metric?
Most do: tile, flooring, paint, wallpaper, gravel, concrete, voltage drop, wood movement and others have a feet or metres switch, and the rest accept decimal feet.
How do I estimate material cost?
Each calculator multiplies the quantity by a typical US price you can change. The estimator above adds a budget, mid-range or premium tier. Local prices vary, so check one store price before you buy.
How accurate are the material estimates?
They use standard formulas and published tables (IRC span tables, NEC Chapter 9, USDA Wood Handbook, manufacturer coverage) with waste included. Treat them as a solid plan, measure twice, and confirm structural work with your building department.
Can I save my estimate?
Your last inputs stay in your browser. To keep an estimate, save it as a Blueprint project: it keeps the materials list, the budget and the steps, and syncs to your phone for the store. Pro is $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr with a 7-day free trial on the annual plan.
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