DIY guides
How to estimate materials for common home and garden projects. Each one has charts and a worked example.
Newest
- Floors, walls & paintHow Much Insulation Do I Need? Attic, Shed and Wall Charts How much insulation for an attic, a 10x12 or 12x16 shed, or 2x4 and 2x6 walls: R-values, depth for blown-in insulation, batt counts and how to top up old insulation.
- Concrete & hardscapeHow Many Tons of Asphalt Do I Need? Driveway Chart Tons of asphalt for common driveway sizes at 2, 3 and 4 inches thick, how thick to go, what a driveway costs, and a quick rule for any area.
- Floors, walls & paintHow Much Baseboard Do I Need? Linear Feet by Room Size How to measure linear feet of baseboard, how many 8, 12 or 16 ft pieces common rooms need, corner and joint cuts, nailing, and typical cost.
Concrete & hardscape
- How Many Tons of Asphalt Do I Need? Driveway Chart Tons of asphalt for common driveway sizes at 2, 3 and 4 inches thick, how thick to go, what a driveway costs, and a quick rule for any area.
- How Much Concrete Do I Need for Steps? Chart by Number of Steps Cubic yards and 80 lb bags of concrete for 2 to 6 solid steps at 3 to 6 ft wide, with and without a landing, standard step sizes, and typical cost.
- How Much Rebar Do I Need for a Slab? Chart by Size and Spacing How many 20 ft sticks of rebar a concrete slab needs at 12, 16, 18 and 24 inch spacing, spacing by project, typical cost, and a worked 20x20 example.
- How Much Gravel for a Gravel Road? (Tons per Mile Chart) Tons and cubic yards of gravel per mile and per 100 feet of gravel road, how deep each layer should be, and a worked example for a quarter-mile lane.
- How Many Bricks in a Square Foot? Charts for Walls and Mortar Bricks per square foot for modular, standard, queen, king and utility brick, plus how many bricks and bags of mortar for common wall sizes.
- How Many Pavers Do I Need? Per Square Foot and Patio Size Charts Pavers per square foot for every common size, plus how many pavers, how much base gravel and how many bags of sand for 10x10, 12x12 and 16x16 patios.
- How Many Retaining Wall Blocks Do I Need? Charts by Wall Size Retaining wall blocks per square foot and per foot of wall, plus how many blocks, caps and tons of gravel for 10, 20, 30 and 50 ft walls.
- How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? (Plus Concrete, Dirt and Mulch) Weight of one cubic yard of gravel, sand, concrete, topsoil, compost and mulch in pounds and tons, how much your truck can carry, and how far a yard spreads.
- How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Driveway? Cubic yards of concrete for one- and two-car driveways at 4, 5 and 6 inches thick, plus base, reinforcement and how to order ready-mix.
- How Much Gravel Do I Need for a Driveway? Work out tons of gravel for a new or refreshed driveway, which stone to use in each layer, and how deep each layer should be.
- How Many Bags of Concrete Do I Need? (Chart + Examples) How to work out how many 80, 60 or 40 lb bags of concrete you need for a slab, post holes or a pad, with a quick chart and worked examples.
Decks, fences & yard
- How Many Steps Do I Need for My Deck? (Chart by Height) Number of steps, riser height, total run and stringer length for decks from 18 inches to 8 ft high, with the building code limits and a worked example.
- How Much Soil Do I Need for a Raised Bed? Chart by Bed Size Cubic feet, cubic yards and bags of soil for 4x4, 4x8, 3x6 and other raised garden beds at 10, 12 and 18 inches deep, plus the best soil mix.
- How Much Sod Is on a Pallet? Pallets Needed by Lawn Size How many square feet, rolls and slabs come on a pallet of sod, and how many pallets common lawn sizes need, plus the topsoil to lay underneath.
- Bulk vs Bagged Mulch: How Much You Need and Which Is Cheaper How to work out mulch in cubic yards or bags, when bulk delivery beats bags, and how deep to spread it, with worked examples.
- Deck Materials List: How Many Boards, Joists and Screws? Plan the materials for a rectangular deck: deck boards, joists, beams, posts and screws, with a worked 16 x 12 ft example and spacing rules.
- How Many Fence Posts, Rails and Pickets Do I Need? Plan a wood privacy or picket fence: posts, rails, pickets and concrete, with a worked 150 ft example and tips on spacing, gates and depth.
Floors, walls & paint
- How Much Insulation Do I Need? Attic, Shed and Wall Charts How much insulation for an attic, a 10x12 or 12x16 shed, or 2x4 and 2x6 walls: R-values, depth for blown-in insulation, batt counts and how to top up old insulation.
- How Much Baseboard Do I Need? Linear Feet by Room Size How to measure linear feet of baseboard, how many 8, 12 or 16 ft pieces common rooms need, corner and joint cuts, nailing, and typical cost.
- How Much Carpet Do I Need? Square Yards by Room Size Square yards of carpet and pad for 10x10, 12x12, 12x15 and other rooms, carpet for stairs, typical costs, and how roll width changes the order.
- How Many Tiles Do I Need for a Bathroom Floor? Measure a bathroom floor, work out tiles and boxes for 12x12, 12x24 or mosaic tile, and estimate grout and thinset, with a worked example.
- How Much Drywall Do I Need to Finish a Basement? Work out drywall sheets, screws, joint compound and tape for a basement, with a worked 20 x 30 ft example and tips on board types.
- How Much Laminate or Vinyl Plank Flooring to Buy Measure rooms, add the right waste, and work out boxes, underlayment, baseboard and transitions for laminate or vinyl plank flooring.
- How to Calculate Square Footage of a Room or House Measure square footage for rooms, L-shaped spaces, odd shapes and whole houses, and convert to square yards, square meters and acres.
- How Much Paint Do I Need for a Room? A Simple Guide Work out how many gallons of paint you need for a bedroom, living room or ceiling, with the formula, a room-size chart and tips to avoid buying too much.
Roof, siding & cooling
- How Many Bundles of Shingles Are in a Square? Most shingles come 3 bundles to a square (100 sq ft). See how many bundles you need for 1,000 to 3,000 sq ft of roof, with waste, and which shingles are different.
- How Many Squares of Siding Do I Need? House Size Chart What a square of siding is, how to measure your walls and gables, and how many squares, vinyl boxes or lap planks common house sizes need.
- What Size AC Do I Need? BTU and Tons by Square Footage Room AC and central air sizing charts by square footage, from a 12x12 bedroom to a 3,000 sq ft house, plus the adjustments for sun, people and kitchens.
- How to Measure a Roof for Shingles (Without Climbing It) Estimate roof area from the ground using your house footprint and pitch, then convert to squares and bundles of shingles, with a worked example.