Construction and Home

Each calculator here turns room or site measurements into a shopping list. Measure twice, and enter each length in the units the tool asks for. The Concrete Calculator gives cubic yards or cubic meters for slabs, footings and columns. A 10 by 10 foot slab that is 4 inches thick needs about 1.23 cubic yards before waste.

For finishing work, the Paint Calculator subtracts doors and windows and multiplies by the number of coats. The Tile Calculator adds a waste percentage for cut tiles. The Wallpaper Calculator allows for pattern repeat, since matching the pattern uses extra paper.

Outdoors, the Fence Calculator counts posts, rails and pickets from the fence length and post spacing. If your plans mix metric and imperial units, the Area Converter switches between square feet and square meters. Product sizes and coverage rates vary by brand, so check the label or ask your supplier before you order. It is also wise to buy a little extra to cover cuts and breakage.