BackyardCalc is an independent project built by a small team of DIY and home-improvement enthusiasts. We were tired of guessing how many bags of concrete, cubic yards of mulch, or boxes of flooring a project needed — and of over-ordering (wasting money) or under-ordering (a second trip to the store). So we built the tools we wished existed.
What we do
We make free, easy-to-use calculators and plain-English cost guides for the most common home and outdoor projects. Today the Site includes 25 material calculators and 9 cost guides across four areas:
- Concrete & masonry — slabs, paver bases, fence-post concrete, thinset, and more.
- Landscaping & soil — mulch, topsoil, gravel, sod, grass seed, raised-bed soil, fertilizer.
- Structures & outdoor — decks, fences, retaining walls, roofing, pavers, pool volume.
- Interior & finishes — paint, drywall, vinyl-plank and laminate flooring, wallpaper, insulation.
How our calculators are built
Accuracy is the whole point of a calculator, so we don’t hand-wave the math. Every calculator is built on a transparent, documented formula — the same standard quantities, coverage rates, and waste factors that contractors and suppliers use. Each formula is backed by an automated test suite, and our by-size reference tables are checked against the live calculator logic so the numbers you see in a chart always match the number the tool gives you.
We keep cost figures and material assumptions reviewed for current pricing, and we show our work: most pages include a worked example, a quick reference table, and answers to the questions people actually ask about that project.
How we stay free
BackyardCalc is free to use and always will be. We keep the lights on through advertising and a small number of affiliate links (as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases). These never change the result a calculator gives you — the math comes first, always. You can read exactly how ads and data work on our Privacy Policy page.
A note on accuracy
Our tools are designed to get you a reliable estimate, but every project is different. Site conditions, measurement accuracy, and product specs all matter, so we always recommend confirming quantities with your supplier or a professional before you buy. See our Terms of Use for the full details.
Get in touch
Found a number that looks off, or want a calculator we don’t have yet? We’d genuinely like to hear it. Email us at hello@backyardcalc.com or use our contact page. Reader feedback is how the Site gets better.