About CalcDIY
What We Do
CalcDIY builds free, accurate calculators for home improvement projects. Whether you're painting a bedroom, tiling a bathroom, spreading mulch in the garden, or planning a new fence, our tools give you a reliable material estimate in seconds.
No sign-ups. No paywalls. No guesswork. Just punch in your measurements and get an answer you can take to the store.
Who We Are
CalcDIY is a project of Perihelion Labs. We build focused, useful web tools that solve real problems. CalcDIY grew out of a simple frustration: every time we started a home project, we ended up on some ad-stuffed site trying to figure out how much paint or mulch to buy, and the answer was always buried under twelve paragraphs of filler content.
So we built the site we wanted to find. Fast, accurate, and straight to the point.
Our Methodology
Every calculator on CalcDIY is built using formulas verified against industry sources. We don't guess at coverage rates or make up conversion factors. Here's how we approach accuracy:
- Manufacturer specifications: Our paint coverage rates reference published data from manufacturers like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Behr. Mulch, gravel, and tile calculations use standard volume and area formulas with industry-accepted waste factors.
- Cross-referenced sources: Each calculator's assumptions are checked against at least two independent sources — manufacturer data, contractor guides, and trade association publications.
- Conservative estimates: Where sources disagree, we err on the side of slightly more material rather than less. Running short mid-project is worse than having a little extra on hand.
- Transparent assumptions: Every calculator shows the assumptions behind its math. We tell you the coverage rate, waste factor, and any other defaults we're using, so you can adjust if your situation is different.
Why We Built This
Home projects are exciting — until you're standing in the store aisle, staring at the shelf, wondering if three gallons of paint will be enough or if you need four. Buying too little means a second trip. Buying too much means wasted money (and cans of paint sitting in the garage for years).
We built CalcDIY to take the guesswork out of that moment. A quick, reliable answer so you can buy with confidence and get on with the actual project — which is the fun part.
Our Accuracy Commitment
We take accuracy seriously. Every calculator is tested against multiple independent sources before it goes live. If we can't verify a formula, we don't publish it.
That said, our calculators produce estimates. Real-world conditions vary — surface texture, application method, material brands, and a dozen other factors can affect how much you actually need. We always recommend checking with your supplier for your specific project.
If you ever find a calculation that seems off, we want to hear about it. Getting the math right is the whole point.
What's Coming Next
We're building new calculators regularly. Each one goes through the same research and verification process before launch. If there's a home project calculator you'd love to see, let us know.
Get in Touch
Questions, feedback, calculator requests, or spotted an error? We'd love to hear from you.
CalcDIY — a Perihelion Labs project
Email: perihelionlabs21@gmail.com