For concrete • dirt work • paving • carpentry • roofing • landscaping • electrical • interiors
Measure it. Figure it. Order right.
Pick your trade, pick your calculator, type in your measurements — get yards, bags, sticks, pails, tons, truck loads, and squares with waste, swell, and shrink figured in. The field formulas DOT crews and estimators use, in one place.
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Start here
The four tools everybody reaches for first — no digging.
Voice-figure a concrete slab. Tap the button and say it like: “21 by 24 at 4 inches thick” — it fills the slab calculator and figures the yards. The result lands in your 📓 Notepad like any other calculation.
Every calculator in the app has its own 🎤 Voice button at the top, too — handy when your hands are full. Voice uses your phone's built-in speech recognition; nothing is recorded or stored by the app.
Pick Your Trade
Tap your trade to see only your calculators.
Everyday Calculators
The ones everybody reaches for, whatever the trade.
Put this app on your home screen
⚠ You're viewing this inside the Muse app. A shortcut created from in here saves as Muse, with Muse's name and icon. To get the tape app instead, open this calculator on its own page in Safari, then follow the steps below. Open this calculator on its own page.
✓ You're running the installed app — this is the standalone Tradesmen Calc with the camo tape icon, not the Muse app.
On iPhone, in Safari: tap the Share button (square with an arrow pointing up), scroll that menu up, then tap Add to Home Screen.
Before you tap Add, check the preview: it should show the camo shield & tape icon and the name Tradesmen Calc. If the preview says Muse, stop — that screen is still inside the Muse app. Open the page in Safari itself and add it from there.
On Android, in Chrome: tap the ⋮ menu → Install app (or Add to Home screen).
Quick reference
Item
Figure
Concrete
1 yd³ = 27 cu ft • 80-lb bag = 0.60 cu ft • 60-lb = 0.45 • 40-lb = 0.30
Common practice and typical dimensions trades work to every day. These are TYPICAL figures — not a substitute for local code, the project plans, or the inspector. Where a number is a code value, it is marked as one.
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Feet & Inches Calculator
Add and subtract tape-measure numbers the way you read them — feet, inches, and fractions.
How it works: everything is converted to inches, the math is done, and the answer comes back as a tape-measure reading (nearest 1/16), decimal feet, decimal inches, and millimeters. Check: 5′ 6-1/2″ + 3′ 4-3/4″ = 8′ 11-1/4″ = 8.9375 ft = 107.25 in.
Answer — as read on a tape
—
—Decimal feet
—Decimal inches
—Millimeters
—In 16ths of an inch
=
Basic Calculator
Plain everyday arithmetic — big buttons for gloves and bright sun.
0
Keys: % turns the number on screen into a percent of itself (50 → 0.5). The top line keeps the running expression so you can check what you typed.
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Graphing Calculator
Type a function of x and see the curve. Works with + − × ÷, powers (x^2), parentheses, sin, cos, tan, sqrt, abs, pi, and e.
x from −10 to 10
Try: x^2 (parabola) • 2*x+3 (straight line) • sin(x) • sqrt(x) • abs(x-2). Implicit multiplication works too — 2x and 3(x+1) are fine. Checks: x^2 at x = 3 → 9 • 2*x+3 at x = 4 → 11.
⇄
Unit Converter
Length, weight, area, volume, temperature — type a value and read it in every unit of the kind at once.
That is
—
Exact conversion factors (1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 lb = 453.59237 g, 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft, 1 US ton = 2,000 lb).
✎
Sketch & Measure — Draw Your Area
Rough area for a patio, driveway, or odd-shaped bed — pick a shape, or draw it with your finger and fill in the side measurements. The more sides you measure, the greener the accuracy meter — and the closer the number.
No camera scanning in the web app — true camera room-scan (Apple RoomPlan / LiDAR) needs a native app, and this page won't fake it. Instead: walk the walls, tap or say each length, and it builds the room. (Tracing a plan photo above is the "scan a plan" route.)
Say them in order — “twelve, twelve, eight-foot ceilings”.
Snap a picture of a plan — or pick one from your library — and trace its outline right on top of it. The app does not read the numbers off the photo by itself — you trace the outline and tap in the dimensions shown on the plan (side boxes or measurement lines), and it figures the area from there. Your photo is never uploaded or saved; it lives only on this page.
Sketch locked — measure on the drawing: drag a straight line from one point to another anywhere on the sketch (it snaps to corners and sides). Let go and a box pops up right here asking how many feet that line is — type it in and the line stays on the drawing in red with its feet on it. Then draw the next line the same way, as many as you want — along a side, corner to corner, or across the middle. The page stays put the whole time. Tap a red line later to edit or delete it. Unlock to go back to drawing.
How many feet is this line?
Enter the feet for this line first.
🚶 Walk & Measure (GPS)
Tap Start, then walk the edge of the area holding your phone. Tap Done when you're back where you started — the loop closes itself and figures the area. Best for yards, lots, and fields — the kind of ground measured in acres.
Tip: wait for the accuracy below to settle under ±15 ft, then walk slowly. Phone GPS wanders roughly ±10–16 ft, so a walked area gives you an idea of the size — not an order number for concrete. Location is used only while you walk; it is never recorded, stored, or sent anywhere.
Walked: 0 ftGPS accuracy: —Points: 0
How to draw: tap corner by corner around the area (or drag — it simplifies to points), then tap Close shape. Draw first, then enter the measurements you actually took — in the lettered side boxes below, or by locking the sketch and dragging measurement lines right on the drawing. You never have to measure every side: just one measurement still works, the sides you skip are figured from your drawing's proportions, and every measurement you add turns the meter greener and the answer closer. Check: draw a square, close it, enter 20 ft on one side → 400 sq ft, 80 ft around.
Side measurements
Fill in the sides you know — all optional except the ones needed to solve.
Complex shape: results stay rough no matter what — a star or many-sided outline can't be pinned exactly from sides alone. Measure the longest sides, and add the overall width and height below; rescaling the drawing on each axis helps odd shapes a lot.
Corner radius — curb returns
Tap any corner on the drawing, then pick its radius. 25 ft is the common city intersection curb return; concrete work runs 10 to 100 ft.
Accuracy—
Figured from your measurements
Area
— sq ft—
—Area — sq yd
—Perimeter / around
—Concrete at depth — yd³
—Mulch at depth — yd³
—Mulch — 2 cu ft bags
—Gravel at depth — tons
—Asphalt at depth — tons (DOT 110 lb rate)
—Rough estimate from your dimensions — measure the real thing before you order.
Formula: π × radius² × depth per tube. Check local frost depth — Iowa footings commonly go 42–48 in deep. Electricians: this is your pole / light-base footing calculator too.
Total for all tubes
— cubic yards
—Cu ft per tube
—Total cu ft (with waste)
—80-lb bags per tube
—Exact yards
Bagged mix — total bags for all tubes (with waste)
Bag size
Yield per bag
Bags
40 lb
0.30 cu ft
—
50 lb
0.375 cu ft
—
60 lb
0.45 cu ft
—
80 lb
0.60 cu ft
—
90 lb
0.68 cu ft
—
Reference — bags per cubic yard: 90 × 40-lb • 72 × 50-lb • 60 × 60-lb • 45 × 80-lb • 40 × 90-lb (QUIKRETE / SAKRETE yields). Handy for pole & light-base footings set with bagged mix.
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Concrete Steps
Solid steps poured on grade — porches, stoops, and entries. Also under Carpentry / Framing.
How it figures: solid steps stacked on grade — the step k up from the bottom is k risers tall, so volume = width × riser × tread × (1 + 2 + … + n) = width × riser × tread × n(n+1) ÷ 2. Check: 4 steps, 4 ft wide, 7 in riser, 11 in tread = 21.39 cu ft (0.79 yd³).
You need
— cubic yards (with waste)
—Cubic feet (exact)
—Exact yards
—Overall rise (steps × riser)
—Overall run (steps × tread)
If you're mixing bags instead — bags needed (with waste)
Concrete around a set post — fence, deck, poles, signs. The post itself is subtracted. Also under Carpentry & Electrical.
Formula: hole cylinder (π × radius² × depth) minus the post (side² × depth). Check: 12 in dia × 30 in deep with a 4×4 = 1.75 cu ft per hole — about 3 × 80-lb bags per hole.
Total for all holes
— cubic yards
—Cu ft per hole
—80-lb bags per hole
—Total cu ft
—80-lb bags total
Bagged mix — total bags for all holes
Bag size
Yield per bag
Bags
40 lb
0.30 cu ft
—
50 lb
0.375 cu ft
—
60 lb
0.45 cu ft
—
80 lb
0.60 cu ft
—
90 lb
0.68 cu ft
—
Bell the bottom of the hole out a little wider for frost country — add a bag per hole if you do.
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Block & Mortar
CMU block count and mortar for a block wall — foundations, stem walls, retaining walls.
Formula: standard 8×8×16 block with 3/8 in mortar joints = 1.125 blocks per sq ft of wall. Mortar at 1 × 60-lb bag per 12 blocks (typical planning figure). Grout to fill ALL cores ≈ 1.0 yd³ per 100 blocks (typical). Check: 20 × 8 ft wall = 180 blocks, 15 mortar bags.
Blocks to order
— blocks (8×8×16)
—60-lb mortar bags (typical)
—Grout if filling all cores — yd³
—Wall area
—Courses (8 in each)
Mortar and grout figures are typical planning rates — bag yields vary by brand and joint size. Bond beam and vertical-cell-only grouting take far less than fill-all-cores.
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Rebar — Grid for a Slab
Two-way grid. Bars in each direction = floor(other dimension ÷ spacing) + 1.
Check: 20 × 20 ft at 2 ft on center = 11 bars each way × 20 ft = 440 LF. Quick method: LF per sq ft = 2 ÷ spacing (ft).
Rebar to order
— sticks to buy
—Total linear ft (net)
—LF with waste/lap
—Bars each way
—Est. weight
Weight is on net linear feet. Chairs/dobies and tie wire are separate.
⬢
Curing Compound & Sealers
For plain, colored, stamped & decorative concrete. Pick the product, then the finish — coverage and how-to change with it.
Coverage both ways:200 sq ft/gal = 22.2 sq yd/gal ≈ 0.045 gal per sq yd
You need
— × 5-gallon pails
—Gallons needed
—Area covered
—Gal per sq yd
—Sq yd per gallon
Check: 1,000 sq ft of curing compound at 200 sq ft/gal, 1 coat = 5 gallons = exactly one 5-gallon pail. Always confirm the label on your specific product — rates vary with porosity.
⚡
Voltage Drop
Long run to a barn, well, or outbuilding? Figure the drop and the wire size that fixes it.
Formula: VD = 2 × K × I × L ÷ CM — K is the conductor constant, L the one-way distance, CM the wire's circular mils. The NEC's informational notes suggest keeping drop to 3% on a branch circuit and 5% total (feeder + branch) for reasonable efficiency — guidance, not a hard code rule. Check: 120 V, 20 A, 100 ft, 12 AWG copper = 7.90 V dropped = 6.6% — too much; 8 AWG fixes it at 2.6%.
Voltage drop on this run
— volts dropped
—Percent drop
—Volts left at the load
—Smallest size for ≤ 3%
—Drop at that size
—
Ω
Ohm's Law — Watts / Amps / Volts
Fill in any TWO — the other two figure themselves.
The wheel: V = I × R • W = V × I • I = V ÷ R • R = V ÷ I. Check: 120 V + 10 A → 12 Ω, 1,200 W.
Solved
—
—Volts
—Amps
—Ohms
—Watts
Enter any two values.
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Mulch Calculator
Beds and landscaping. 3 inches is the standard depth.
Rule: 1 cubic yard covers ~81 sq ft at 4 in deep. Most gravel is sold by the ton — weight below uses the material rate you pick.
You need
— tons to order
—Cubic yards
—Area sq ft
—Cubic feet
—0.5 cu ft bags*
*Bag count is for small touch-ups only — bulk by the ton is far cheaper at this size.
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Sand & Topsoil
Leveling sand, paver base sand, and topsoil for beds and lawn repair — yards and tons.
Formula: yards = L × W × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27; tons = yards × the material rate. Rates are typical — moisture swings them. Check: sand 10 × 10 ft at 2 in = 0.62 yd³ = 0.83 tons.
You need
— cubic yards
—Tons (typical rate)
—Cubic feet
—Area sq ft
—0.5 cu ft bags*
*Bags are for tiny touch-ups only — bulk by the yard is the way at any real size. Figure topsoil a little heavy: it settles and compacts after watering in.
⌂
Roofing — Shingles
Squares, bundles, and underlayment from footprint + pitch.
Basics: 1 square = 100 sq ft of roof. Standard shingles = 3 bundles per square. Add ~1 ft overhang each side if you measured walls only.
Order
— squares (with waste)
—Actual roof sq ft
—Bundles (3 / square)
—Underlayment rolls*
—Roof area sq yd
*Synthetic roll at ~10 squares per roll; felt is ~4 squares per roll. Starter and ridge cap are extra.
⇄
Tons ⇄ Cubic Yards — Dirt, Rock & Aggregates
Enter tons OR cubic yards and get the other — densities from DOT-published factors (FHWA, MoDOT, WisDOT), all editable, because dirt is paid by the bank yard and aggregates are bought by the ton.
Honest note on the numbers: most DOTs don't publish one official conversion table — a Wisconsin DOT study of surveyed state DOTs found only about 23% publish factors at all. The defaults here are DOT-measured or DOT guideline figures: FHWA Earthwork Design densities for soils (bank / loose / compacted), Missouri DOT's published 1.40 t/yd³ estimate factor for loose aggregate, and Wisconsin DOT's 2023 measured study for compacted bases (crushed stone 1.80–1.86, RAP 1.64–1.71, RCA 1.65–1.75 t/yd³). Moisture and gradation move every one of them — for paid quantities, the scale ticket rules. Iowa DOT pays dirt in bank CY (plan quantity) and buys aggregates like Class A crushed stone by the ton (Sections 4121/4109), which is exactly why this converter exists. Type over the density any time with your pit's real number.
⬒
Dirt — Excavation, Swell & Shrink
Dig it, haul it, put it back compacted. Dirt changes volume every step — this figures all three states.
The three yardages:Bank CY = dirt in the ground, L × W × D ÷ 27. Loose CY = Bank × (1 + swell %) — what fills the truck. Compacted CY = Bank × (1 − shrink %) — what it becomes after compaction. Presets are typical planning values; use your DOT or project factor when the job specs one.
In-place cut
— bank cubic yards
—Loose yd³ to haul
—Compacted yd³ in place
—Truck loads (loose)
—Area
Check: 100 × 50 ft at 2 ft deep = 370.4 bank yd³. Common earth at 25% swell = 463 loose yd³ to haul; compacted back at 10% shrink = 333 yd³.
▤
Fill & Compaction — Material to Bring In
You know the finished, compacted size you need. This works backward to how much loose material to order and haul.
Formula: Compacted CY = L × W × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Bank CY needed = Compacted ÷ (1 − shrink %). Loose CY to order = Bank × (1 + swell %). Ordering the compacted number flat will leave you short — shrink eats the difference.
Order / haul in
— loose cubic yards
—Finished compacted yd³
—Bank yd³ equivalent
—Truck loads (loose)
—Extra vs. flat measure
≏
Trench Backfill
Figure the dirt that goes back in the trench — or use the Iowa DOT culvert / structure formula.
Formula: Net compacted backfill = (L × W × D − pipe volume) ÷ 27. Pipe volume = π × (diameter in ft ÷ 2)² × length. Bank CY to have on hand = Compacted ÷ (1 − shrink %); loose CY = Bank × (1 + swell %).
Iowa DOT Section 2107: compacted backfill adjacent to bridges, culverts, or structures is figured as Q = (4 ft × L × H) ÷ 27, with L = length and H = height in feet, Q in compacted cubic yards. This is a pay-quantity formula for backfill next to a structure — not a trench volume.
Net backfill in the trench
— compacted cubic yards
—Bank yd³ needed
—Loose yd³ to handle
—Gross trench yd³
—Pipe displaces
Iowa DOT Section 2107 — compacted backfill
— compacted cubic yards (Q)
Q = (4 × L × H) ÷ 27. Check: L = 40 ft, H = 6 ft → (4 × 40 × 6) ÷ 27 = 35.6 yd³.
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Roadway Earthwork — Average End Area
The DOT cross-section method for road, ditch, and channel excavation between two stations.
Average end area method: Volume = (A₁ + A₂) ÷ 2 × distance ÷ 27 = bank CY. It's how DOT plans measure roadway excavation between cross sections. For long runs, figure each station pair and add them up.
Excavation between sections
— bank cubic yards
—Loose yd³ to haul
—Compacted yd³
—Truck loads (loose)
—Average end area
⟋
Slope / Grade
Driveways, drainage, ramps, and site work — turn a rise and run into grade numbers. Also under Paving.
Formulas: % grade = rise ÷ run (same units) × 100. Drop per foot = rise (in) ÷ run (ft). Check: 6 in of rise over 10 ft = 5% grade, 0.6 in per ft, 2.86°. Field guide: driveways usually want 1–2% minimum to shed water; plumbing drain lines run 1/4 in per ft (≈2%).
Grade
— percent grade
—Angle
—Drop — inches per foot
—Ratio (run : rise)
—Feet of fall per 100 ft
▬
Asphalt Tonnage
Hot mix for driveways, parking lots, and patches — figured the DOT field way.
DOT field formula: Tons = sq yd × thickness (in) × 110 lb per sq yd per inch ÷ 2,000. Density check at 145 lb/cu ft: Tons = area (sq ft) × (thickness ÷ 12) × 145 ÷ 2,000. The two run about 1% apart — the plant's actual mix density and the job spec govern, so confirm before you order.
Order
— tons (with waste)
—Tons before waste (DOT)
—Whole tons to order
—Cubic yards of mix
—Coverage per ton
Check: a 150 × 300 ft lot at 3 in = 5,000 sq yd × 3 × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 825 tons before waste. Density-check method: — tons.
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Square Checker — 3-4-5 & Diagonals
Is the corner square? Is the rectangle true? Two tape-measure checks that never lie.
How to run a 3-4-5: 1) From the corner, mark 3 units along one side. 2) Mark 4 units along the other side. 3) Measure between the two marks — it must read exactly 5 units if the corner is square. Nudge the side until it does. A bigger triangle (12-16-20) is more accurate than a small one.
Equal diagonals rule: measure corner-to-corner both ways on the rectangle. If both diagonals are equal, the rectangle is square and true. If they're not, rack the long diagonal side until they match. Expected diagonal = √(L² + W²).
The diagonal between your marks must read
— feet
—Diagonal in inches
—Nearest 1/16 in
If the tape reads anything but this number, the corner is out of square — adjust and re-measure.
∠
Roof Pitch Calculator
Rise over run — get the pitch, the angle, the rafter length, and the same multiplier the shingle calculator uses.
Formulas: Pitch = rise ÷ run, expressed per 12. Angle = arctan(rise ÷ run). Rafter length per foot of run = √(rise² + 12²) on a 12-in run basis. Pitch multiplier = √(rise² + 12²) ÷ 12 — multiply flat (footprint) area by it to get true roof area, same factor as the Roofing calculator.
Pitch
— / 12
—Roof angle
—Rafter length per ft of run
—Pitch multiplier (roof area)
—Slope percent
Check: 6/12 pitch = 26.6° angle, 13.42 in of rafter per foot of run, multiplier 1.118. A 12/12 pitch = 45°, multiplier 1.414. A common rafter runs from the ridge down to the top plate, where the birdsmouth (seat cut) sits on the plate.
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Board Foot Calculator
How lumber is priced at the yard — board feet per board, per stack, and the cost.
Formula: BF = thickness (in) × width (in) × length (in) ÷ 144 — same as T × W × length (ft) ÷ 12. Use the ROUGH (full) dimensions for hardwood sold by the board foot. Check: 2×6×8 ft = 8 BF.
Total board feet
— board feet
—BF per board
—Total cost at your price
Nominal vs. actual: a store-bought "2×6" is really 1.5 × 5.5 in — by the yard's nominal figuring it's still sold as 2×6. Enter the size your supplier bills.
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Deck Calculator
Deck boards, joists, and screws for a rectangular deck. Boards run along the length.
How it figures: Rows = deck width (in) ÷ (board width + gap), rounded up. Joists at 16 in on center spanning the width. Screws ≈ 2 per board at every joist. Check: a 12 × 16 ft deck with 5.5 in boards at a 1/8 in gap = 26 rows.
Deck boards to buy (10% waste in)
— boards
—Rows across the width
—Board linear feet (net)
—Joists at 16 in OC
—Screws — approx
Approximate — picture-framing, stairs, railing posts, beams, and footings are separate (post holes: see the Post Hole calculator). Composite boards often spec a different gap — check the brand.
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Fence Calculator
Posts, rails, pickets, and post concrete for a wood privacy or picket fence run. Also under Landscaping.
How it figures: Sections = length ÷ spacing, rounded up; posts = sections + 1; rails = sections × rails per section; pickets = length (in) ÷ (picket width + gap), rounded up. Concrete figured at 2 × 80-lb bags per post — the standard figure for a typical 10 in × 24 in post hole (use the Post Hole calculator for exact hole math). Check: 100 ft at 8-ft spacing, privacy (no gap) = 13 sections, 14 posts, 26 rails, 219 pickets.
Pickets to buy
— pickets
—Sections
—Posts (4×4)
—Rails (2×4)
—80-lb concrete bags (2/post)
Approximate for a straight run — gates, corners, and end bracing are extra. Buy a few spare pickets; a couple in every bundle are dogs.
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Stud Layout — Wall Framing
Measure the outside of the wall, get your 2×4 count — field studs, corners, openings, and plates figured in.
How it figures: Field studs = wall length (in) ÷ spacing, rounded up, + 1 for the end stud. Corners and T-intersections add 2 studs each (backing / nailers beyond the end stud already counted). Each door or window opening adds 4 studs — a king and a jack on each side; headers and sills are figured separately. Plates = 3 × wall length (1 bottom plate + double top plate). Check: a 24 ft wall at 16 in on center = 288 ÷ 16 + 1 = 19 field studs.
2×4 studs to buy (with waste)
— studs
—Field studs (layout)
—Extra studs (corners / T's / openings)
—Plate boards to buy
—Total plate — linear ft
—
Quick thumb rule: at 16 in on center, figure roughly 1 stud per linear foot of wall once corners and openings are in — this calculator does the exact layout count instead. Studs for a second wall? Run it again per wall and add the lists together.
∠
Stair Stringer Layout
Deck, porch, and floor-to-floor stairs — risers, treads, total run, angle, and the 2×12 to buy. Also under Concrete.
How it figures: Risers = total rise ÷ target riser, rounded up; actual riser = total rise ÷ risers, so every step comes out even. Treads = risers − 1 — the deck or upper floor is the last tread. Total run = treads × tread depth. Stringer pitch length = √(total run² + (total rise − one riser)²). Check: total rise 52.5 in, target 7.5 in, tread 10 in = 7 risers @ 7.5 in, 6 treads, 60 in run, 36.9°, 75 in pitch — buy an 8 ft 2×12.
Your stair layout
— risers
—Actual riser height
—Treads
—Total run
—Stair angle
—Stringer pitch length
—Buy — 2×12 stringer stock
—
Cut two stringers for most stairs — three once the stair runs much over 36 in wide. The pitch length is the sloped line before layout cuts; the buy length rounds up to the next stock 2×12 so there's meat left for the top and bottom cuts.
⌂
Shed Material List
Pick a shed size — get the whole approximate lumber, plywood, and roofing list for a typical build.
Typical build this list assumes:Floor — 2 treated 4×4 skids on concrete deck blocks, 2×6 floor joists at 16 in on center spanning the width (+ 2 rim joists), 3/4 in plywood deck. Walls — 2×4 studs at your spacing, single bottom plate + double top plate, 1/2 in plywood / OSB sheathing, gable-end triangles included. Roof — gable roof, 2×6 rafters at 16 in on center in pairs, 2×6 ridge board, 12 in eave overhang + 12 in gable overhangs, 1/2 in roof sheathing, shingles at 3 bundles per square. Joists and rafters are figured at 16 in on center regardless of wall stud spacing.
Approximate material list — typical build
— shed
—2×4 wall studs
—2×6 rafters
—Plywood sheets — all
—Shingle bundles
Lumber
Item
Qty
2×4 wall studs
—
2×4 plates — 8 ft (bottom + double top)
—
2×6 floor joists (incl. 2 rim)
—
2×6 rafters
—
2×6 ridge board
—
4×4 treated skids
—
Plywood / sheathing — 4×8 sheets
Item
Qty
3/4 in plywood — floor deck
—
1/2 in sheathing — walls + gable ends
—
1/2 in sheathing — roof deck
—
Total 1/2 in sheets
—
Other
Item
Qty
Concrete deck blocks (under skids)
—
Shingle bundles (3 per square)
—
—
Approximate for a typical build — this is a starting list, not a cut list. It does not deduct or add for a door / window opening, and does not include the door itself, ramp, trim, siding beyond sheathing, hardware, fasteners, hurricane ties, drip edge, underlayment, or vents. Add starter strip and waste on shingles, and a few spare studs for culls.
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DIY Shed Plans
Two typical gable sheds, drawn out — floor, wall framing, and roof — so you can see the layout and how a quality build goes together before you figure materials.
Plan A — 8 × 8 Gable Shed
Single 3-ft door centered on the front wall • 8-ft walls • 4/12 gable roof • everything 16 in on center.
Floor plan (top view). 2×6 joists at 16" OC spanning the width — 7 field + 2 rim. 4×4 skids dashed underneath, deck blocks (tan squares) 6 total, 3 per skid.Front wall framing. Studs at 16" OC, single bottom plate, double top plate. The door is framed with full-height king studs, jack studs carrying the header. Cut the bottom plate out of the doorway after the wall is stood and plumbed.Roof profile (gable end). Rafter pairs at 4/12 pitch, 12" eave overhangs, 2×6 ridge board, gable studs up from the top plate, and a ceiling joist / rafter tie across every pair so the walls can't spread.
Layout steps — Plan A
Set and level the deck blocks, then lay the two 4×4 treated skids on them.
Build the floor frame on the skids — 2×6 joists at 16" OC with rim joists, joist ends flush.
Square the floor before you deck it — measure both diagonals; they must be EQUAL, and check a corner with the 3-4-5 (use the Square Checker under Carpentry). Rack it true, then fasten it down.
Deck the floor with 3/4" plywood, edges landing on joists.
Frame each wall flat on the deck — studs 16" OC, door opening framed — then stand it, plumb it, and brace it.
Set the ridge board and rafter pairs, with a ceiling joist / rafter tie on every pair.
Sheath the walls, then the roof — every sheathing edge landing on framing.
Roofing felt, then shingles — starter strip at the eaves, work up to the ridge cap.
Quality build notes
Treated skids and floor framing — anything near the ground is ground-contact rated.
Joists, studs, and rafters all at 16" OC, stacked in line, so loads carry straight down and sheathing edges always land on wood.
Double top plate with the joints and corners lapped — it locks the four walls into one box.
Rafter ties on every pair, and the floor squared BEFORE sheathing locks it in.
Plan B — 10 × 12 Gable Shed
Double doors (6-ft opening) centered on the 10-ft front wall • one 3 × 3 window on a 12-ft side wall • 8-ft walls • 4/12 gable roof.
Floor plan (top view). 2×6 joists at 16" OC spanning the 10-ft width — 10 field + 2 rim. Skids dashed underneath running the 12-ft depth, 6 deck blocks (3 per skid).Front wall framing (gable end). Studs at 16" OC, double top plate. The 6-ft double door gets a header carried on jack studs with full-height kings each side — wide enough for a mower or ATV.Side wall framing. The 3 × 3 window is framed like a small door turned sideways: header on jack studs at the top, a sill at the bottom, and cripple studs filling in below the sill on the same 16" layout.Roof profile (gable end). 10-ft span at 4/12 — a 1'-8" rise. Same build as Plan A: ridge board, rafter pairs 16" OC, ties on every pair, 12" overhangs all around.
Layout steps — Plan B
Set and level the deck blocks — 3 per skid on the 12-ft run — and lay the 4×4 treated skids.
Build the floor frame — joists at 16" OC spanning the 10-ft width, rim joists on the long sides.
Square the floor — both diagonals EQUAL and a 3-4-5 corner check (Square Checker, under Carpentry) — before any plywood goes down.
Deck the floor with 3/4" plywood.
Frame the walls flat on the deck — front wall with the double-door header, side wall with the window framed in — stand, plumb, and brace each one.
Ridge board and rafter pairs, ties on every pair, gable studs plumb over the end-wall studs.
Sheath walls, then roof. Cut the bottom plate out of the doorway once the front wall is stood and braced.
Felt and shingles, ridge cap last; hang the doors and set the window.
Quality build notes
Same bones as the 8×8, scaled up: treated skids, 16" OC throughout, double top plate lapped at corners.
The wide door header is carried on jack studs — never let a header hang on nails alone.
Window header and sill keep the 16" stud layout running through the opening with cripples.
On a 12-ft wall, brace it well while standing it — it's the floppy one of the four.
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Drywall Calculator
Sheets, screws, mud, and tape for a room — walls, ceiling optional.
How it figures: Sheets = area ÷ sheet size, rounded up — on most rooms the round-up covers cutting waste; add a sheet or two for cut-up rooms. Screws ≈ 32 per sheet. Mud ≈ 1 × 5-gal bucket per 450 sq ft, tape ≈ 1 roll (370 ft) per 1,000 sq ft — both approximate, both depend on how many coats and how tight the hanging is. Check: 12 × 12 room, 8-ft walls + ceiling = 528 sq ft → 17 sheets of 4×8.
Sheets to buy
— sheets
—Area to cover
—Screws — approx (32/sheet)
—5-gal mud buckets — approx
—Tape rolls (370 ft) — approx
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Paint Calculator
Gallons by the room — doors and windows deducted, coats figured in.
Formula: gallons = (gross wall area − doors × 21 − windows × 15) × coats ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon (typical coverage — rough or textured walls drink more). Check: 12 × 12 × 8 room, 1 door, 1 window, 2 coats = 348 sq ft × 2 ÷ 350 = 1.99 gal → buy 2 gallons.
Paint to buy
— whole gallons
—Gallons figured (exact)
—Paintable wall sq ft
—Gross wall sq ft
—Deducted — doors/windows
Primer is separate — figure it at the same rate for bare drywall or big color changes. Ceiling paint? Add the ceiling area (L × W) as wall area in area mode.
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Flooring Calculator
Boxes of laminate / LVP / hardwood for a floor, with waste and underlayment.
Formula: boxes = area × (1 + waste %) ÷ sq ft per box, rounded up. Underlayment at 1 roll per 100 sq ft. Check: 12 × 15 room (180 sq ft), 20 sq ft boxes, 10% waste = 198 ÷ 20 = 10 boxes.
Boxes to buy
— boxes
—Floor area
—Sq ft to cover (with waste)
—Underlayment rolls (100 sq ft)
—Leftover coverage in the last box
Buy all boxes from the same dye lot / run when you can, and keep the extra box — a discontinued floor with no spare is a tear-out waiting to happen.
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Tile & Grout Calculator
Tiles, grout, and thinset for floors, showers, and backsplashes.
How it figures: Tiles = area (sq in) ÷ tile sq in × (1 + waste), rounded up. Grout: a 25-lb bag covers ≈ 150 sq ft at 12×12 with 1/8 in joints (typical) — scaled for other sizes below. Thinset: 50-lb bag ≈ 75 sq ft (typical). Check: 100 sq ft of 12×12 = 110 tiles, 1 grout bag, 2 thinset bags.
Tiles to buy
— tiles
—Grout — 25-lb bags (typical)
—Thinset — 50-lb bags (typical)
—Tiles net (before waste)
—Grout coverage used — sq ft/bag
Grout coverage swings hard with joint width and tile thickness — the bag's own chart governs. Mosaics on mesh: figure the sheet as the "tile."
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Seeding Calculator
Seed by the acre at DOT / SUDAS rates — drilled, broadcast, or shot with a hydroseeder. Also under Landscaping.
Rates: Iowa DOT Spec 2601 and SUDAS 9010 planning rates — the seed tag and the project spec govern. Seed shot through a hydroseeder with the mulch goes up 30% for seed/soil contact. Seeding windows (Iowa, permanent): Mar 1 – May 31 and Aug 10 – Sep 30. Check: 3.5 acres of Rural Permanent = 682.5 lb = 14 × 50-lb bags.
Seed needed (at the listed rate)
— pounds of seed
—50-lb bags to buy
—Rate used
—Area
—Seed if hydroseeded with mulch (+30%)
Bags are figured on the hydroseeded amount when the +30% toggle is on. Mulch the same day you seed — see the Straw and Hydraulic Mulch calculators.
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Fertilizer Calculator
Fertilizer by the acre for seeding work — SUDAS / Iowa DOT rates.
Check: 2 acres at 300 lb/acre = 600 lb = 12 × 50-lb bags. Soil test beats any preset — these are the spec defaults when the plans don't say otherwise.
Fertilizer needed
— pounds
—Tons
—50-lb bags
—Area
—Rate used
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Straw / Hay Mulch
Bales for a seeded area at the Iowa DOT straw rate. Also under Landscaping.
Iowa DOT rate:1.5 tons of dry straw per acre, applied the same day the area is seeded. This reproduces the DOT Construction Manual 7.31 worked example: 2.6 acres × 1.5 t/ac = 7,800 lb ÷ 48 lb/bale = 163 bales. Weigh a few of your bales — bale weight is the whole ballgame here.
Straw needed
— tons of dry straw
—Total pounds
—Bales at your bale weight
—Rate
—Bales per acre
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Hydraulic Mulch (Hydro-Mulch)
Wood / paper hydraulic mulch at the Iowa DOT minimum — bales and mixing water. Also under Landscaping.
Iowa DOT Spec 2601 minimum:3,000 lb/acre of hydraulic mulch = 60 × 50-lb bales per acre. Mixing water runs 67–125 gallons per bale per the DOT chart — thinner for long hose reaches. Check: 1 acre = 3,000 lb = 60 bales, water 4,020–7,500 gal.
Hydraulic mulch needed
— pounds
—50-lb bales
—Mixing water — low (67 gal/bale)
—Mixing water — high (125 gal/bale)
—Tons
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Silt Fence
Rolls and posts for a run of silt fence.
How it figures: Rolls = length ÷ roll size, rounded up. Posts at 6-ft spacing (typical) = length ÷ 6, rounded up, + 1 end post. Steep slopes and DOT work often spec tighter post spacing — check the plan. Check: 300 ft = 3 rolls, 51 posts.
Rolls to buy
— rolls
—Posts at 6 ft spacing (typical)
—Run length
Trench the fabric in 6 in and backfill it tight — a silt fence laid on top of the ground is decoration, not erosion control.
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Taper Length & Device Count
MUTCD Part 6 tapers — how long, how many drums/cones, and the buffer you keep empty.
MUTCD formulas: Base L = W × S² ÷ 60 at 40 mph and under; L = W × S at 45 mph and over. Device spacing in a taper = 1 × speed in feet; on the tangent, 2 × speed. Devices on the taper = floor(taper ÷ spacing) + 1. The buffer is the MUTCD stopping-sight-distance for the speed (rounded to the nearest listed speed) — nothing and nobody goes in it. Checks: 12-ft lane at 35 mph merging: L = 245 ft, spacing 35 ft, 8 devices, buffer 250 ft • at 55 mph: L = 660 ft, buffer 495 ft.
Taper length
— feet
—Max device spacing in taper
—Devices on the taper
—Devices on the tangent
—Longitudinal buffer — keep it empty
—Base L before the type factor
Minimums from MUTCD Part 6 — the project traffic control plan and the engineer govern. Downstream tapers figure at the standard 100 ft with devices about 20 ft apart.
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Advance Warning Sign Spacing
The three-sign series ahead of the work — MUTCD Table 6B-1 minimums by road type.
MUTCD Table 6B-1: A = distance from the taper (transition) back to the nearest sign, B = between the first and second signs, C = between the second and third signs — the sign series stretches out as speed and road class go up. These are minimums; hills, curves, and sight obstructions push signs farther back.
A — taper to nearest sign
—
—B — between sign 1 and sign 2
—C — between sign 2 and sign 3
—Whole sign series (A + B + C)
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Curb & Gutter — PCC (Iowa DOT)
Concrete curb by the linear foot — section types per Iowa DOT Standard Road Plan PV-102 (SUDAS Figure 7010.102), figured by total unit width like Spec 2512 bid items.
Formula: Cross-section = flag (total width × flag thickness) + curb head, in square inches ÷ 144 (a sloped head is a trapezoid: (top + base) ÷ 2 × height; the mountable taper subtracts its triangle). Yards = cross-section (ft²) × run (LF) ÷ 27. LF per yd³ = 27 ÷ cross-section (ft²).
Concrete for the run — yd³ with waste
— yd³
—Cross-section
—Concrete per linear foot
—Total for the run
—Exact — no waste
—LF per yd³
—Section
Iowa DOT PV-102 / SUDAS 7010 curb types: 6-inch Standard Curb, 6-inch Sloped Curb, 4-inch Sloped Curb. Iowa DOT Spec 2512 bid items for Curb and Gutter, P.C. Concrete are sold by TOTAL unit width: 1.5 ft, 2.0 ft, and 2.5 ft — and SUDAS project work commonly uses the 30-inch (2.5 ft) unit at 6 in or 8 in thickness. Cedar Rapids' SUDAS supplement requires on new residential streets a curb at least 6 in high × 6 in wide with a gutter section at least 2 ft wide. Checks: the 1.0-ft standard section (108 in² = 0.75 ft²) runs 36.0 LF per yd³; the 3-ft taper (144 in² = 1.00 ft²) runs 27.0.
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Concrete Maturity — TTF (ASTM C1074)
Time–temperature factor from a maturity meter or a temp log — the DOT maturity method for estimating strength gain.
Formula: TTF = Σ (concrete temp − datum temp) × time, interval by interval — an interval at or below the datum adds zero. Equivalent age (Arrhenius): te = time × exp(−Q × (1/Ta − 1/Ts)), temperatures in kelvin, reference Ts = 73 °F.
Maturity — time–temperature factor
— °F-hours
—TTF in °F-days
—Equivalent age at 73 °F
—More hours to target at current temp
—Log-mode TTF
Maturity estimates strength gain — it is NOT strength itself. Opening to traffic, form stripping, and saw-cut timing come off the mix's lab strength–maturity curve (ASTM C1074): the TTF where the curve reaches the required strength governs. Datum 14 °F is the common default for Type I/II cement; below the datum, hydration is assumed stopped.
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Unit Weight & Yield (ASTM C138)
The fresh-concrete unit weight test a DOT tech runs — plus the yield, cement content, and relative yield that come off it.
Formula: Unit weight = (full weight − empty weight) ÷ measure volume. Yield = batch weight ÷ unit weight. Cement content = cementitious lb ÷ yield in yd³.
Unit weight
— lb/ft³
—Net concrete in measure
—Yield — cu ft
—Yield — yd³
—Cement content
—Cement — sacks/yd³ (94 lb)
—Relative yield (actual ÷ design)
Relative yield over 1.00 = over-yielding (the load made more volume than designed); under 1.00 = under-yield.
ASTM C138. Typical normal-weight concrete runs roughly 140–150 lb/ft³ depending on air. The theoretical unit weight from the mix design feeds the gravimetric air-content calculator.
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Mix Design — Absolute Volume & Yield
The ACI absolute-volume check of a 1-yd³ design batch: do the ingredients actually make a yard?
Absolute volume method (ACI): volume (cu ft) = weight (lb) ÷ (specific gravity × 62.4). Air's volume = air % × 27. A true yard of ingredients totals 27.00 cu ft. Check: cement 564, water 250, CA 1,800 @ 2.68, FA 1,250 @ 2.62, air 6% → 2.87 + 4.01 + 10.76 + 7.65 + 1.62 ≈ 26.9 cu ft ≈ 1.00 yd³.
Total absolute volume
— cu ft per design yard
—Cement volume
—Fly ash / slag volume
—Water volume
—Coarse agg volume
—Fine agg volume
—Air volume
—Yield
—Total batch weight
—
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Water-Cement Ratio (w/cm)
The single number that drives strength and durability.
Formula: w/cm = total water ÷ total cementitious (cement + fly ash + slag). Check: 250 lb water over 564 cement + 100 fly ash = 0.377.
Water-cementitious ratio
— w/cm
—Total cementitious
—Water in gallons
—
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Air Content from Unit Weight
The gravimetric air check — theoretical vs. measured fresh unit weight.
Formula: Air % = (T − measured) ÷ T × 100, where T = total batch weight ÷ the absolute volume of everything except air. Check: T 152.0, measured 143.5 → 5.6% air.
Air content (gravimetric)
— % air
—T used
—Unit-weight difference
—
—
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Aggregate Moisture Correction
Wet batch weights and the batch-water adjustment from today's stockpile moisture.
Formulas: Wet batch weight = dry × (1 + total moisture %). Free (surface) water = (moisture % − absorption %) × dry weight — that water is already in the mix, so added water = design water − total free water. A negative free water means the aggregate is thirstier than saturated-surface-dry and will absorb mix water. Checks: CA 1,800 lb @ 3.0% MC / 1.0% Abs → wet 1,854 lb, free +36 lb • FA 1,250 lb @ 5.0% / 1.2% → wet 1,312.5 lb, free +47.5 lb • combined: cut added water by 83.5 lb = 10.0 gal.
Batch-water adjustment
—
—Coarse agg — wet batch weight
—Coarse agg — free water
—Fine agg — wet batch weight
—Fine agg — free water
—Water to actually add
—Water to add — gallons
—
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Cement Content Solver
Forward from water and w/c — or backward from a real batch's yield to the true cement factor.
Mode A: cement = water ÷ w/c; sacks = cement ÷ 94 lb. Check: 270 lb water at 0.45 → 600 lb cement = 6.38 sacks/yd³. Mode B: yield = batch weight ÷ measured unit weight; cement factor = cement in batch ÷ yield. Check: 5,000 lb batch at 145 pcf with 720 lb cement → 34.48 cu ft = 1.28 yd³, factor 564 lb/yd³.
Cement content
— lb of cement per yd³
—94-lb sacks per yd³
—Batch volume (Mode B)
—Actual yield (Mode B)
—
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HMA — Air Voids & Compaction
From the two gravities every HMA tech lives by: Gmb of the compacted mix and Gmm (Rice).
Formulas: Air voids Pa = (1 − Gmb ÷ Gmm) × 100 • % of max density = Gmb ÷ Gmm × 100 • compacted density = Gmb × 62.4 lb/cu ft. Check: Gmb 2.350, Gmm 2.472 → 4.9% air voids, 95.1% of max, 146.6 pcf. Design air voids target is typically 4%.
Air voids (Pa)
— % air voids
—% of maximum density
—Compacted density
Density acceptance commonly runs 92–96% of Gmm (typical — the plans and the job-mix formula govern).
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HMA — VMA & VFA
Voids in the mineral aggregate, and how much of them the asphalt fills.
Emulsion gallons from a target RESIDUAL rate — what actually has to be on the truck.
Formula: emulsion gallons = area × residual rate ÷ (residue % ÷ 100). Diluting the emulsion (say 1:1 with water) cuts the effective residue — a 60% emulsion diluted 1:1 shoots at about 30% effective residue; enter the effective number. Rates are typical — the plans govern, and the tack must be uniform and broken before paving. Check: 5,000 SY of tack at 0.05 residual with 60% residue = 416.7 gal of emulsion.
Emulsion to have on the truck
— gallons of emulsion
—Residual asphalt needed (gal)
—Emulsion per 1,000 sq yd
—Distributor shot rate (gal/sq yd)
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HMA Yield Check
Plan tons at the DOT 110 rate against what the plant actually shipped.
Formula: Plan tons = sq yd × thickness (in) × 110 lb ÷ 2,000 (the DOT field rate). Variance = (actual − plan) ÷ plan. Check: 1,000 SY at 2 in → plan 110 tons; 118 actual = +7.3%, running 118 lb/SY/in.
Variance vs. plan
—
—Plan tons (DOT 110 rate)
—Actual rate — lb/SY/in
—Tons over / under
—
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Compaction Test — Proctor
Field density against the lab maximum — the pass/fail every dirt job lives on. Also under Paving crews' base work.
Formulas: Dry density = wet density ÷ (1 + moisture %). % compaction = dry density ÷ lab max dry density × 100. Lab moisture from a sample = (wet − dry) ÷ dry × 100 — fill the two sample weights and it shows below. Check: wet 128.5 pcf at 11% moisture → dry 115.8 pcf; against a max of 118.0 → 98.1% compaction, PASS at 95%.
Compaction
— % of lab maximum
—Field dry density
—Dry density needed to pass
—Sample moisture (from weights)
—
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Stationing Helper
Feet ↔ stations, distance between stations, and pavement per station. Also under Paving.
Basics: 1 station = 100 ft. Sta 123+45 = 12,345 ft from the start of the alignment. Checks: Sta 105+50 to Sta 112+25 = 675 ft • a 24-ft pavement = 266.7 sq yd per station.
That distance is
—
—Distance between the two stations
—Sq yd per station at your width
—From-station in feet
—To-station in feet
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Pavement Marking Paint
Gallons of paint and pounds of glass beads for a line run.
Formula: gallons = length (ft) × (width in ÷ 12) × (mils ÷ 12,000) × 7.4805 gal/cu ft. Glass beads at 6 lb per gallon (typical). Check: a 4-in line at 15 mils for 1 mile = 16.5 gal of paint, 99 lb of beads.
Paint needed
— gallons
—Glass beads (typical 6 lb/gal)
—Line area covered
—Gallons per mile at this spec
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DOT Tapered Edge — Safety Edge
The beveled edge DOTs put on road pavement so a tire that drops off can climb back on. Iowa DOT Standard Road Plan PV-3, Specification 2305.
Iowa DOT PV-3 — PCC standard: the tapered wedge runs 1'-0" wide on thick pavement. For T ≥ 8 in: the bevel drops 6 in over a 10½ in run (≈30°), leaving a vertical toe of T − 6 in (2 in min). For 5 in ≤ T < 8 in (detail added to PV-3 in the 10-15-24 revision): the bevel starts ¾ in past the edge line, drops 3 in over a 5¼ in run, toe T − 3 in (2 in min) — a 6 in wide wedge. Extra concrete below = the wedge cross-section past the pavement edge × length.
Iowa DOT PV-3 — HMA standard: a 30° bevel across a 1'-0" Safety Edge width, formed by a shoe on the paver screed. Per PV-3 designer notes, for HMA quantities figured by area, the Safety Edge is measured as one foot of width regardless of thickness — so the figured quantity below is a full 1-ft-wide strip at full thickness, using the same DOT 110 lb field rate as the asphalt calculator. The wedge-only figure is the actual sloped material, for comparison.
Extra concrete in the tapered edge
— cubic yards
—PV-3 profile that applies
—Bevel — run × drop
—Vertical toe at outside edge
—Cu yd per mile (as figured)
Check: 9-in PCC, one edge, 1,000 ft — wedge cross-section 76.5 sq in (12 in × 9 in, minus the 10½ × 6 in bevel triangle) = 19.7 yd³. On Iowa DOT work the Safety Edge quantity is included in the pavement item — it is not measured or paid separately (Spec 2305).
Asphalt to figure for the Safety Edge
— tons (DOT 1-ft measured width)
—Figured area — 1 ft wide strip
—Bevel drop across the 1-ft width
—Approx. wedge-only material
—Tons per mile (as figured)
Check: 3-in HMA, one edge, 1,000 ft = 111.1 sq yd × 3 in × 110 lb ÷ 2,000 = 18.3 tons figured. The 30° bevel drops about 6.9 in across the 1-ft width, so on pavement thinner than that the wedge runs out to a point before the full foot. Per Spec 2305 the Safety Edge is included in the pavement unit price — not paid separately.
