About MaterialCalc
MaterialCalc is a small, independent site publishing fast calculators for common home-project materials: paint, drywall, mulch, concrete, roof pitch, sod, and gravel — with more on the way.
The project started from a simple frustration: most online material calculators are either slow, cluttered with ads stacked over the inputs, or quietly over-estimate by hiding the waste factor. We wanted a version that:
- Puts the inputs and the answer above the fold on a phone.
- Shows the math so you can sanity-check it.
- Exposes the waste factor as an editable number.
- Produces a plain-text shopping list you can paste into a store app.
Who runs the site
MaterialCalc is operated as an independent project focused on DIY home-improvement tools. We're not affiliated with Home Depot, Lowe's, or any specific paint, concrete, or landscaping brand.
Who writes MaterialCalc
Every calculator and guide on this site is produced by the MaterialCalc Editorial Team — the small group that builds and maintains the tools. Our work is research, not opinion: we pull coverage rates and spread rates from manufacturer data sheets, cross-check them against trade association and building-code references, and track current retail pricing at the national home centers so the cost estimates stay close to what you will actually pay at the register.
We do not hide the method. Each calculator prints the formula and the assumptions it used on the page, so you can check our arithmetic against your own. Pages are reviewed on a regular cadence, and each one carries the month it was last updated. Spot something wrong? Tell us — corrections get priority over new features.
How we build coverage numbers
Default coverage values (like "350 sq ft per gallon" for paint, or "1.5 tons per cubic yard" for crushed stone) are drawn from published manufacturer data sheets and industry-standard references. We periodically review them and will post a changelog entry here when defaults change.
Accuracy and use
The calculators are intended as a planning aid, not a substitute for professional estimates on critical structural or code-required work. For permitted projects, confirm quantities with your contractor, engineer, or building inspector. See the Terms of Service for the full disclaimer.
Feedback and corrections
If a result looks wrong or a tool is missing a feature you'd use, please email us. We respond to most messages within a couple of days.