Methodology & sources
This page is generated from the same data files the calculators read. If a number changes in the tool, it changes here — the two cannot drift apart.
How we choose a number
Sources are used in this order of authority:
- Manufacturer technical data sheets, for anything sold in a bag.
- NRMCA, for ready-mix supply and delivery practice.
- ASTM and ACI, for test methods and design conventions.
- State DOT specifications, for aggregate gradations and base materials.
- Government and university extension publications.
- Established suppliers, for commercial practice such as batching increments.
We do not treat other calculator websites as authorities. They are useful for cross-checking our arithmetic, and we do check against them, but no constant on this site cites one as its source.
Where real-world values genuinely vary, we publish a range rather than inventing precision. Concrete density depends on the mix; aggregate density depends on moisture and gradation; plant minimums and fees are set regionally. A figure quoted to three decimal places would look more authoritative and be less true.
Geometry
All volumes are computed in feet and converted afterwards. The imperial path is exact integer arithmetic — 12 inches to a foot, 3 feet to a yard, 27 cubic feet to a cubic yard — so no floating-point drift reaches the headline figure. The metric path uses the defined factor of exactly 0.3048 metres per foot.
| Shape | Method |
|---|---|
| Slab, footing, wall, rectangular column | length × width × thickness |
| Circular slab, round column | π r² × height |
| Tube / ring | π(R² − r²) × height |
| Tapered slab | ((width A + width B) ÷ 2) × length × thickness |
| Belled pier | Cylindrical shaft + conical frustum: (πh ÷ 3)(R² + Rr + r²) |
| Monolithic slab | Slab volume + edge beam along the centreline perimeter, so corners are neither double-counted nor missed |
| Stairs (solid) | Stacked prisms: run × rise × N(N+1)/2 × width, plus any top platform at full flight height |
| Stairs (suspended) | Sawtooth above the slope (N × rise × run ÷ 2) plus a throat slab along the flight hypotenuse |
| Curb & gutter | Cross-section × run. The flag is taken across the full width including beneath the curb, with the curb block sitting on top — the monolithic section. |
| Post hole | Cylinder minus the post’s own volume over the embedded depth |
| Wall openings | Deducted at full wall thickness, floored at zero |
Bag yields
Yields are published figures, not interpolations. Every bag size in use cites a manufacturer data sheet.
| Bag | Yield | Per yd³ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.3 ft³ | 90 | Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 |
| 50 lb | 0.375 ft³ | 72 | QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet #1004-50 — "each 50 lb bag will yield approximately 0.375 cu ft of mixed concrete" — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 |
| 60 lb | 0.45 ft³ | 60 | Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 QUIKRETE Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet #1101 — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 |
| 80 lb | 0.6 ft³ | 45 | QUIKRETE Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet #1101 — "an 80 lb bag yields approximately 0.60 ft³" — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 |
| 90 lb | 0.66 ft³ | 41 | Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix, Technical Data Sheet — Manufacturer technical data sheet, retrieved 2026-09-11 |
90 lb: The 90 lb bag is the one size that does NOT sit on the 0.0075 ft³-per-pound line the 40/50/60/80 lb bags share (0.66 ÷ 90 = 0.00733). Quoted as published rather than scaled — which is exactly why the smaller sizes must never be back-calculated from it.
Concrete density
| Mix | Used | Range | Notes & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete (no reinforcement) | 145 lb/ft³ | 140–150 | ACI 318 takes plain normal-weight concrete at 145 lb/ft³. The 140–150 band is the accepted range for normal-weight mixes; actual density is measured per ASTM C138. ACI 318 convention for plain normal-weight concrete (145 lb/ft³) — Industry standard |
| Reinforced concrete (with rebar) | 150 lb/ft³ | 145–156 | ACI 318 takes reinforced normal-weight concrete at 150 lb/ft³ — the extra ~5 lb/ft³ over plain concrete accounts for the steel. 150 lb/ft³ is 4,050 lb per cubic yard, the familiar "about two tons a yard". ACI 318 convention for reinforced normal-weight concrete (150 lb/ft³) — Industry standard |
| Structural lightweight concrete · confirm with supplier | 110 lb/ft³ | 90–120 | Lightweight mixes vary widely with the aggregate used. Get the actual unit weight from your ready-mix supplier's mix design rather than estimating from this range. ESCSI / PCA, Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete — Industry standard |
Ready-mix delivery
These are typical practice, not standards. Minimum order sizes, short-load charges and batching increments are set by each plant and vary by region and over time. The calculator ships these as starting points and lets you enter your own supplier's actual minimum and charge, which then take precedence.
- Typical full load: 10 yd³
- Mixer drum range: 8–12 yd³
- Typical minimum order: 5– 7 yd³ — we flag below 6 unless you enter your supplier's own
- Possible short-load charge: $100–$250, shown as a range because plants set it individually — never presented as certain
- Order increment: 0.25 yd³ — Ready-mix is commonly batched and billed in quarter-yard increments, so the recommended order rounds up to the next 0.25 yd³. Increments vary by plant — confirm with your supplier.
TYPICAL PRACTICE, NOT A STANDARD. Mixer capacities run 8-12 yd³, with ~10 yd³ the common full load. NRMCA notes a drum's rated mixing capacity is about 63% of its gross volume, which is why a drum that looks larger still delivers ~10 yd³. Minimum order sizes and short-load charges are set by each plant and vary regionally and over time — the figures here are a starting point, and the calculator lets you enter your own supplier's actual minimum and charge.
NRMCA, Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete — mixer capacity 8–12 yd³; rated capacity ≈ 63% of gross drum volume — retrieved 2026-09-11
Aggregate density
There is no authoritative national per-product density table, and there is not going to be one. Bulk density is a property of the sample measured under AASHTO T 19 / ASTM C29 — Bulk Density ("Unit Weight") and Voids in Aggregate — it depends on the source rock, the gradation and the moisture. A Wisconsin DOT study tested 29 of that state's own aggregates and found conversion factors spanning 1.50–1.98 tons/yd³, and found that only about 23% of state DOTs publish conversion factors at all. That is why every figure below is a range.
Densities here are loose, as-delivered — the state the material is in when the quarry weighs it onto the truck. Compaction is handled separately, as the factor that converts a finished compacted depth into the loose volume you have to order. Mixing the two is the error that under-orders a job.
| Material | Type | lb/ft³ | Compaction | Sourcing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #57 stone (¾" washed) FHWA measured AASHTO No. 57 at 95.4–108.7 lb/ft³ between the loose (ASTM D4254) and vibrated (ASTM D4253) states. The 12% upper compaction bound is that laboratory vibration — a plate compactor on site achieves far less, which is why open-graded stone is treated as essentially non-compacting. FHWA-HRT-15-034, Strength Characterization of Open-Graded Aggregates for Structural Backfills (June 2015) — AASHTO No. 57 dry unit weight 95.4–108.7 pcf — Government / FHWA source, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Open-graded (clean) | 95.4–108.7 | 0–12% | Published figure |
| #8 stone (⅜" chip) FHWA reported 85.7–112.8 lb/ft³ across different No. 8 sources. That spread is unusually wide and reflects genuine source-rock variation — confirm with your quarry before ordering by weight. FHWA-HRT-15-034 — AASHTO No. 8 dry unit weight 85.7–112.8 pcf across sources — Government / FHWA source, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Open-graded (clean) | 85.7–112.8 | 0–12% | Published figure |
| Coarse drainage rock (#1–#3 size) Keyed to WSDOT Permeable Ballast at 1.40 tons/yd³. Penn State describes aggregates in this size class as open-graded and essentially non-compactible, which is why the compaction allowance is near zero. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — Permeable Ballast 2,800 lb/cy (1.40 T/cy) — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies, Aggregate 101 — open-graded aggregates are essentially non-compactible — University research, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Open-graded (clean) | 92–112 | 0–10% | Published figure |
| Crusher run / dense-graded aggregate Loose densities are WSDOT's truck-measure figures for crushed surfacing. The compaction band is derived from the same table: material weighing 1.43–1.55 T/cy loose weighs 1.85–1.95 T/cy once compacted on the roadway, which is a 20–23% reduction in volume. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — Crushed Surfacing Top Course 2,850 lb/cy truck measure / 3,700 lb/cy compacted; Base Course 2,950 / 3,700 — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 105.9–114.8 | 20–25% | Published figure |
| Gravel base WSDOT gives gravel base as 3,400–3,800 lb/cy (1.70–1.90 T/cy) compacted, recommending 3,700 lb/cy as the most suitable figure, falling toward 3,400 where the grading is more than 45% sand. Loose densities here are the corresponding truck-measure figures. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — Gravel Base 3,400–3,800 lb/cy (1.70–1.90 T/cy) compacted — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 103.7–114.8 | 18–25% | Published figure |
| Ballast (coarse dense-graded) WSDOT gives ballast as 3,100 lb/cy truck measure and 3,900 lb/cy compacted, a 20.5% volume reduction. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — Ballast 3,100 lb/cy truck measure / 3,900 lb/cy compacted — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 110–120 | 18–24% | Published figure |
| Screened gravel surfacing WSDOT gives screened gravel surfacing as 3,700 lb/cy (1.85 T/cy) compacted; the loose figures follow the crushed-surfacing truck measures in the same table. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — Screened Gravel Surfacing 3,700 lb/cy (1.85 T/cy) compacted — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 103.7–116 | 18–24% | Published figure |
| Pea gravel No published figure exists for pea gravel specifically. This band is the AASHTO T 19 / ASTM C29 range for normal-weight aggregate, narrowed to the part of it that rounded ⅜" gravel occupies. Treat it as indicative and get your quarry's tons-per-yard before ordering by weight. AASHTO T 19 / ASTM C29 — bulk density of normal-weight aggregate, approx. 75–110 lb/ft³ — ASTM standard, retrieved 2026-09-12 Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies, Aggregate 101 — rounded stone does not interlock or compact — University research, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Rounded | 90–110 | 0–3% | Class range — no published product figure |
| River rock (1–3") No published figure for decorative river rock. This band sits at the lower end of the AASHTO T 19 normal-weight range because large rounded stone packs with high void content. Indicative only. AASHTO T 19 / ASTM C29 — bulk density of normal-weight aggregate, approx. 75–110 lb/ft³ — ASTM standard, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Rounded | 85–105 | 0–0% | Class range — no published product figure |
| Stone dust / screenings Keyed to WSDOT's guidance that a sand-rich grading falls toward 3,400 lb/cy (1.70 T/cy) compacted. No figure is published for screenings as a product, so this is a class range rather than a specific citation. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — gradings containing more than 45% sand approach 3,400 lb/cy (1.70 T/cy) — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 100–120 | 12–22% | Class range — no published product figure |
| Sand WSDOT gives essentially-all-sand grading as 3,400 lb/cy (1.70 T/cy) compacted. Sand's density swings more with moisture than any other material here — wet sand can weigh materially more than the same volume dry, so weight-based ordering deserves a phone call. WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Exhibit 620-1 (Sept 2024) — material that is essentially all sand approaches 3,400 lb/cy (1.70 T/cy) — DOT specification, retrieved 2026-09-12 | Dense-graded | 95–118 | 8–18% | Class range — no published product figure |
Materials we deliberately do not offer. Riprap, recycled concrete, decomposed granite, lava rock and marble chips were researched and left out: no authoritative density could be established for them, and a plausible-looking invented figure is worse than an absent one. Limestone and granite are not listed as named products either, because density tracks gradation far more closely than rock type — pick the gradation instead.
Aggregate compaction
The compaction figures are derived from the same WSDOT table as the densities. Material weighing 1.43–1.55 tons/yd³ on the truck weighs 1.85–1.95 tons/yd³ once compacted on the roadway, which is a 20–23% reduction in volume. Open-graded and rounded stone barely change, which Penn State's dirt-and-gravel-road research describes as essentially non-compactible.
- Dense-graded: Compacts substantially. Order loose volume for the compacted depth you want.
- Open-graded (clean): Essentially non-compactible in the field. The upper bound below is laboratory maximum-density vibration, not what a plate compactor achieves.
- Rounded: Does not lock up. Treat as non-compacting.
Aggregate delivery and ordering
- Tri-axle dump truck: 15–22 tons per load
- Tandem / six-wheeler: 8–13 tons per load
- Pickup truck: 1–2 tons per load
- Aggregate is normally sold and billed by the whole ton, so the recommended order rounds up to the next ton. Some yards sell part-tons or by the yard — confirm with yours.
Typical practice, not a standard. Legal axle loads and body sizes vary by state and by hauler.
Waste allowances
Waste is applied to the total, not merely suggested in prose. These presets are practice-based judgement rather than published standards, which is why they are adjustable and why the calculator shows the adjustment as its own step:
- Clean forms, level base — 5%: Well-formed slab on a compacted, screeded base. Little to lose but spillage.
- Typical job — 10%: The usual default. Covers spillage, minor over-excavation and an uneven subgrade.
- Rough or hand-dug — 15%: Hand-dug trenches, soft ground, or a base you could not screed accurately.
Rounding
Calculated volumes are real numbers and are shown as such. Order quantities round up, always: to the next 0.25 yd³ for ready-mix, and to whole bags and whole truckloads. Rounding an order down would leave a crew short mid-pour, so the rounding is deliberately asymmetric.
Landscaping, hardscaping and interior sources
Listed from the same data files the Landscaping and Hardscaping calculators read. Where a figure is typical practice rather than published, the calculator says so beside the figure; where no authoritative figure exists, it asks you for yours. Retaining-wall and pool quantities are material quantities only — neither calculator designs a wall or a pool.
Landscaping
Mulch
- Penn State Extension — Mulching Landscape Trees — Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. 2–4 in for organic mulch and no more; 1–2 in for finely textured or double-shredded mulch; more than 4 in may harm the root system; trunk clearance 3–5 in young, 8–10 in mature; mulch out to the drip line where possible. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
- University of Maryland Extension — Mulching Trees and Shrubs — University of Maryland Extension. Bark mulches and wood chips 1–3 in; pine needles 2–3 in; compost about 1 in; keep mulch about 3 in from the trunk and never touching it. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
- CMG GardenNotes #658 — Mulching Trees and Shrubs — Colorado State University Extension. Keep mulch at least 6 in from the trunk; mulch the backfill area and beyond to a 4–5 in depth for new plantings; "volcano mulching" can reduce oxygen and water to roots and may result in tree decline or death. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
- Iowa State University Extension — How to Determine the Amount of Mulch Needed for a Garden Bed — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Volume of mulch = area of bed × depth in feet; divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards; hardwood chipped or shredded mulches are spread 2–4 in thick; mulch is commonly sold in 2- or 3-cubic-foot bags. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
- Mulches for the Landscape — Mississippi State University Extension Service. Bagged mulch available in sizes such as 1.25 and 2.0 cubic feet; bark 2–3 in, wood chips and shredded wood 2–4 in, pine needles 6–8 in; bulk mulch is purchased by the cubic yard; compare bulk cost against smaller units before buying. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
- Current retail bagged-mulch listings — Manufacturer and retailer product listings (Scotts Nature Scapes; Lowe's bagged mulch category). 1.5, 2 and 3 cubic foot bags are all currently stocked sizes. The retailer's own listing is the authority on bag volume; it is used for nothing else. Bag sizes vary by brand, product line and region, and change over time. The calculator asks the user to check the label and offers a custom size. Retrieved 2026-09-12.
Topsoil
- Penn State Extension — Lawn Establishment — Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. "Typically, a minimum of 4 to 6 inches (firmed or settled depth) of a good-quality topsoil is needed to establish good-quality turf." Tilling depth at least 4 inches. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- Clemson HGIC — Topdressing a Home Lawn — Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. "Topdressing applications should be light with no more than ½-inch of material applied at a time." A thicker application can stunt growth or shade the turf. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- Clemson HGIC — Lawn Establishment — Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Adding up to 3 inches of topsoil where soils are clayey or topsoil has eroded; work amendments into the upper 4 to 6 inches of soil. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- University of Maryland Extension — Starting a New Lawn — University of Maryland Extension. "Blend additives with the soil using a rototiller that mixes soil 4 to 6 inches deep." Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- USDA NRCS — Soil Quality Indicators: Bulk Density — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Bulk density is published BY SOIL TEXTURE, and varies with texture, organic matter and compaction. Cited here as the reason no single topsoil density is offered — not for any number this module uses. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
Seed
- Penn State Extension — Turfgrass Seed and Seed Mixtures — Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. New-seeding rates per 1,000 ft²: turf-type tall fescue 6–8 lb; Kentucky bluegrass 2–3 lb; turf-type perennial ryegrass 4–5 lb; fine fescues 4–5 lb. Non-turf-type tall fescue 8–10 lb. Creeping bentgrass 1 lb (greens and tees). Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- University of Maryland Extension — Starting a New Lawn — University of Maryland Extension. Rates per 1,000 ft²: tall fescue 6–8 lb; Kentucky bluegrass 2–3 lb; fine fescue 4–6 lb; zoysia 1 lb; bermudagrass 1 lb. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- Illinois Extension — Lawn Aeration and Overseeding — University of Illinois Extension. "Suggested seeding rates for fescue and ryegrass are 3-5 lbs./ 1000 sq. ft for overseeding, and 5-10 lbs./ 1000 sq. ft for new lawns"; "for bluegrass, the suggested rate is 1.5 lbs./ 1000 sq. ft for overseeding, and 3 lb./ 1000 sq. ft for new lawns". Bare spots should use the new-lawn rate. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- Penn State Extension — Lawn Establishment — Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. Corroborates the tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass rates, and gives 4–6 lb for perennial ryegrass in overseeding or renovation. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
Sod
- AY-28-W — Establishing a Lawn from Sod — Purdue University Extension. Sod sold by the square yard, square feet ÷ 9; "Typically, one pallet of sod contains about 50 square yards (450 square feet)"; "Order about 10 percent more sod than you anticipate needing to account for calculation errors and waste that occurs when cutting sod around corners"; prepare the upper 4–6 inches of soil. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
- P2951 — Sod Installation and Maintenance — Mississippi State University Extension Service. "A pallet of sod may range in size but typically contains 450 to 500 square feet." "Sod may be bought in square feet or square yards. One square yard equals 9 square feet." "It's always a good idea to buy approximately 5 percent more sod than you think you'll need." Sold as rectangular slabs or small rolls; big rolls need special equipment; small quantities may be sold by the piece. Retrieved 2026-09-14.
Hardscaping
Pavers
- ICPI Tech Spec 2 — Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements — Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (now Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association). "Sidewalks, patios and pedestrian areas should have a minimum base thickness (after compaction) of 4 in. (100 mm) over well-drained soils. Residential driveways on well-drained soils should be at least 6 in. (150 mm) thick." Bases 2–4 in. thicker on wet or weak soils in colder climates. 60 mm units for pedestrian areas and residential driveways; at least 80 mm for vehicular. 98% standard Proctor. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ICPI Guide Construction Specification — Interlocking Concrete Pavement — Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Bedding sand screeded to a nominal 1 in. (25 mm) thickness, not exceeding 1½ in. (40 mm). Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ICPI Installation Manual — Selection and Installation of Concrete Pavers — Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Cut pavers fill gaps against uneven edges and around openings — the mechanism behind a cut allowance. Publishes no percentage. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- Unilock paver installation guidance — Unilock (manufacturer). Typical base ranges of 4–6 in. for pedestrian areas and 8–12 in. for driveways; bedding course 1 in. One manufacturer's typical ranges, shown beside the ICPI minimums rather than instead of them. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
Retaining wall
- International Residential Code, Section R404.4 — Retaining walls — International Code Council. Walls retaining more than 48 in. of unbalanced fill, or more than 24 in. high and resisting lateral loads in addition to soil, must be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- Allan Block — residential installation guide — Allan Block Corporation (manufacturer). Base trench 24 in. wide; minimum 6 in. of compacted wall rock; trench depth 6 in. plus 1 in. of buried block per 1 ft of wall height; fill cores and a minimum 12 in. behind the wall with wall rock. One manufacturer's instructions. Other systems differ; the tool labels these figures as Allan Block's and makes every one editable. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
Pool
- SGM Pool Brite — product page — SGM, Inc. (manufacturer). Each 80 lb bag covers approximately 22–25 sq. ft. at a minimum ⅜–½ in.; surface roughness affects coverage. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- SGM Diamond Brite — product page — SGM, Inc. (manufacturer). Each 80 lb bag covers approximately 22–25 sq. ft. at a minimum ⅜–½ in.; surface roughness affects coverage. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- American Shotcrete Association — Pool FAQs — American Shotcrete Association. "The pool wall thickness is a part of the pool engineer's design." Shotcrete is a placement method for concrete. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
Interior
Paint
- SuperPaint Interior Latex Flat A86 Series — Product Data Sheet 101.02A — The Sherwin-Williams Company (manufacturer). Coverage 350–400 sq. ft. per gallon at 4 mils wet, 1.4 mils dry. Drywall: self-prime with 2 coats, or 1 coat Premium Wall & Wood Primer and 2 coats. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- Regal Select Premium Interior Paint & Primer, Matte N548 — Technical Data Sheet — Benjamin Moore & Co. (manufacturer). Spread rate 400–450 sq. ft. per gallon, depending on surface texture and porosity. Two coats recommended; bare substrates two coats; previously painted surfaces 1 or 2. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- Premium Wall & Wood Interior Latex Primer B28W08111 — Product Data Sheet 108.38 — The Sherwin-Williams Company (manufacturer). Coverage 400 sq. ft. per gallon at 4 mils wet, 1.5 mils dry. Drywall: 1 coat primer, 2 coats topcoat. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex — product page — The Sherwin-Williams Company (manufacturer). Available in 1 quart, 1 gallon and 5 gallon containers. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
Drywall
- USG Sheetrock Brand UltraLight Panels — Submittal Sheet WB2501 — United States Gypsum Company (manufacturer). 1/2 in. thick; lengths 8–16 ft; widths 4 ft and 54 in. × 12 ft. Screw spacing single-layer over wood framing: ceilings 12 in., sidewalls 16 in. maximum. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- USG Soquete Joint Compound — Submittal Sheet J1968 — United States Gypsum Company (manufacturer). Coverage approximately 9.4 gal./1,000 sq. ft. of gypsum panels. Packaging 3.5 gal. carton. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- USG Sheetrock Brand Paper Joint Tape — Submittal Sheet J1736 — United States Gypsum Company (manufacturer). Coverage approximately 370 ft. per 1,000 sq. ft. of gypsum panels. Rolls 75, 250 and 500 ft. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
Wallpaper
- York Wallcoverings — Wallpaper Calculator — York Wallcoverings (manufacturer). 1 bolt = 56 sq. ft. (20.5 in. × 33 ft.). 'Deduct 1 bolt for every 4 ordinary size door or window.' Larger pattern repeats require more rolls. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- How to Measure & Cut Wallpaper — Brewster Home Fashions (manufacturer). Add 4 in. to wall height for overhang — 2 in. at top and bottom for trimming. Account for repeat and match when cutting subsequent strips. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- How to Estimate How Much Wallpaper You Need — The Sherwin-Williams Company. Usable yield per single roll falls with repeat: 25 sq. ft. (0–6 in.), 22 (7–12 in.), 20 (13–18 in.), 18 (19–23 in.). Priced in single rolls, sold in double or triple rolls. Buy an extra roll; match batch numbers. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- Wallpaper Tips & Info; Wallcovering Estimator — Wallcovering Installers Association. Defines random, straight-across and drop matches; patterns with a significant drop match (24 in. or greater) require additional wallpaper. Its estimator multiplies wall length by height without deducting openings. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
What this calculator does not do
- It does not design mixes, specify strength, or size reinforcement.
- It does not account for slope, ground water or over-excavation beyond your waste allowance.
- It does not include labour, pumping, formwork, finishing or delivery charges.
- It does not know your local plant’s minimum, price or schedule — ask them.
Slab / rectangle through to Belled pier, every figure here is an estimate for planning. Confirm quantities with your supplier before you order.
Corrections
If you believe a constant here is wrong, we would rather know. Every value is centralised in one data file specifically so it can be corrected in one place.