Homestimate exists to take the guesswork out of home improvement. Whether you're painting a bedroom, laying new floors, or tiling a backsplash, the first question is always the same: how much do I actually need to buy? Buy too little and you're back at the store mid-project; buy too much and you've wasted money. We build free calculators that answer that question accurately, in seconds.
What we do
We create clear, reliable calculators for common home projects — paint, flooring, tile, concrete, decking, mulch, drywall, roofing, and dozens more — covering interior, flooring and tile, framing, concrete and masonry, roofing and exterior, driveways and patios, and landscaping. Alongside the calculators are plain-English guides that walk through the how and the how-much of each job.
Every calculator does two things most others don't: it accounts for the real-world details that change your totals (waste, extra coats, doors, and windows), and it gives you an editable cost estimate so you can budget before you shop. Change the price to match your local store and the numbers update instantly.
How we estimate
Our formulas are based on standard industry rules of thumb — for example, one gallon of paint covering roughly 350 square feet per coat, or a 10% waste allowance for straight-laid flooring. We show our working on every calculator page so you can see exactly how a number was reached and adjust the inputs to match your product and local prices. For the assumptions and sources behind our numbers, see our methodology.
Our estimates are designed for planning and budgeting. For large or structural projects, we always recommend confirming quantities with your supplier or a professional before you buy.
Why you can trust our numbers
- We show the math. Every calculator spells out the formula and assumptions it uses, so you're never trusting a black box.
- Real-world details are built in. Waste, coats, openings, compaction, and material differences are accounted for — the things that trip up a back-of-the-envelope guess.
- Sources and a review date. Our figures come from standard industry data and manufacturer coverage rates, and each calculator carries a "last reviewed" date. See the methodology for the full picture.
- Independent and honest. We're not affiliated with any brand, and we'll tell you plainly when a job needs a pro, a permit, or a span table rather than a rule of thumb.
Who's behind Homestimate
Homestimate was started by Ralph, its founder, out of a simple frustration: one too many trips back to the hardware store mid-project. The goal was to build the material calculators he wished he'd had — and to show the math behind every one, so you can trust the numbers and adjust them to your own project.
Homestimate is independent and isn't affiliated with any paint, flooring, or tile brand, which keeps our calculators and recommendations focused on what's genuinely useful to you.
Get in touch
Found something we could improve, or have a calculator you'd like us to build? We'd genuinely like to hear it — head to our contact page.