Home Improvement Calculators

    Free calculators for paint, concrete, flooring, gravel, and fencing projects. Get accurate material estimates and cost breakdowns before you buy.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many gallons of paint do I need for a room?

    A standard gallon of paint covers about 350–400 square feet per coat. For a 12×14 ft room with 8 ft ceilings: wall area ≈ 416 sq ft (minus doors/windows ≈ 50 sq ft = 366 sq ft). With 2 coats: 366 × 2 = 732 sq ft ÷ 350 = ~2.1 gallons. Always buy slightly more than your estimate — you want consistent dye lots for touch-ups.

    How do I calculate how much concrete I need?

    Volume = Length × Width × Thickness (all in feet). Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Add 10% for waste. Example: 10 × 10 ft patio, 4 inches thick = 10 × 10 × (4/12) = 33.3 cu ft = 1.23 cu yards. You'd order 1.4 cu yards. One 80 lb bag of concrete mix = 0.60 cu ft, so you'd need about 56 bags.

    How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

    Standard driveway gravel depth is 4 inches. For a 100 × 12 ft driveway at 4 inches deep: Volume = 100 × 12 × (4/12) = 400 cu ft = 14.8 cu yards. Gravel weighs ~1.4 tons per cu yard = ~20.7 tons. A typical bulk delivery truck carries 10–14 tons, so you'd need 2 loads. Our Gravel Calculator handles all materials and depths.

    How do I calculate flooring for a room?

    Measure length × width to get base square footage. Add 10% for waste (15% for diagonal installations or rooms with odd angles). Divide total sq ft by the box coverage to get number of boxes — always round up. Example: 200 sq ft room + 10% = 220 sq ft. If boxes cover 20 sq ft each: 220 ÷ 20 = 11 boxes.

    How many fence posts do I need?

    Posts are typically spaced 6–8 feet apart. For 200 linear feet at 8-foot spacing: 200 ÷ 8 = 25 spans + 1 end post = 26 posts. For corners and gates, add extra posts. Each post needs 2 bags of concrete (80 lb). For a 6-foot privacy fence: each span needs 2 horizontal rails and approximately 17–18 boards (1×6 boards at 5.5 inches wide).