About BuildByCalc
BuildByCalc helps you buy the right amount of material the first time. Not three trips back to the store, and not a pallet left over in the yard.
Why this site exists
Most material calculators give you one number and no explanation. Many of them leave out waste, guess at bag yields, or hide the formula. We wanted calculators that show their work: every unit you actually buy in (bags, cubic yards, tons), the waste allowance shown and editable, and the source of every number.
Who runs it
BuildByCalc is built and run by Shahzaib, a web developer who has spent years building WordPress sites and tools. He writes the calculators, checks the formulas against manufacturer data and industry estimating guides, and tests every one before it goes live.
How the calculators are made
- Sourced numbers. Block counts, mortar and grout yields, densities and bag sizes come from manufacturer data sheets and industry bodies such as the National Concrete Masonry Association. Each calculator lists its sources at the bottom of its page.
- Tested before publishing. Every calculator is checked against hand-worked examples, including metric inputs and edge cases, and has to match them exactly.
- Kept up to date. Each page shows when it was last checked. Prices change, so cost fields are always yours to edit.
The full method is on our methodology page.
What we don’t do
We don’t sell materials, and no supplier pays us to recommend them. Estimates are a starting point: confirm quantities with your supplier, and check structural work with your local building department.
Found a mistake or want a calculator we don’t have yet? Tell us.