Who builds this
JoistCalc is built and maintained by Alex — fifteen years in semi and heavy equipment repair, plus a steady run of DIY projects on my own house. That's diesel and hydraulics by trade, not framing and concrete, so every formula here is checked against published construction references rather than my own jobsite experience. What carries over is the habit: a calculator should show its formula so you can verify it yourself, instead of trusting a number on faith.
Why this site exists
Getting a straight material estimate shouldn't require an account, an app download, or wading through a sales pitch for ready-mix delivery. JoistCalc exists to give you a fast, accurate number — cubic yards, tons, board feet, sheets, gallons, or bundles — so you can order the right amount the first time and get back to work.
What you'll find here
Each calculator uses the same industry-standard formulas a foreman or estimator would use by hand, laid out plainly on the page so you can see exactly how the number was reached — not a black box. Every calculator also documents its formula and answers common questions specific to that material, right on the page.
Save, share, and estimate a whole job
Every calculator lets you save a result, copy a shareable link that reproduces it, or print a clean copy. Add saved calculations to a named project on the My Projects page to see a combined material cost and markup estimate for a whole job. Switching the site's language also switches the default measurement system to match — none of this requires an account, and everything is stored only in your browser.
Free, no sign-up, ad-supported
Every calculator is free to use, with no account required. The site is supported by advertising rather than subscriptions or paywalls, which is why you'll see a couple of ad placements on each page — they're kept clear of the calculator forms themselves so they don't get in the way of the tool.
Accuracy first
Formulas are checked against standard industry references for each trade. That said, every result here is an estimate for planning purposes — always confirm final quantities against your project specs, local supplier minimums, and manufacturer coverage rates before ordering material. See the Disclaimer for details.
Questions or a calculator request?
Reach out any time — see the Contact page.