I want to improve my home
Buying the right amount saves money and trips to the store. This page helps you measure once and plan each part of your project. Each step takes a minute or two.
- 1
Measure your space
Almost every project starts with area. Type the length and width of your room or yard.
How many square feet is my room or yard?
Measure my space →Tip: Measure twice and write it down. Draw a simple sketch of odd-shaped rooms and split them into rectangles.
- 2
Work out how much paint you need
Type your wall sizes and the number of doors and windows. We show how much paint to buy.
How much paint do I need for my room?
Count my paint →Tip: Most walls need two coats, especially when changing color. Keep a little left over for touch-ups.
- 3
Plan your new floor
Type your room size and the area in each box. We show how much flooring and how many boxes to buy.
How much flooring do I need, and how many boxes?
Plan my flooring →Tip: Buy about 5% to 10% extra for cuts and mistakes. Buy it all at once so the color matches.
- 4
Count your tiles
For a kitchen, bathroom or wall, type the area and your tile size to see how many tiles you need.
How many tiles do I need for my floor or wall?
Count my tiles →Tip: Patterns like diagonal layouts need more extra tiles than simple straight rows.
- 5
Plan concrete for a slab or path
For a patio, path or post holes, type the length, width and depth to see how much concrete to order.
How much concrete do I need for my slab or post holes?
Count my concrete →Tip: Order a little extra. Running short in the middle of a pour can weaken the job.
- 6
Pick the right AC or heater size
BTU measures how much heating or cooling power a unit has. Type your room size and a few details to see what size you need.
What size air conditioner or heater does my room need?
Find my AC size →Tip: A unit that is too big can cool unevenly and leave the room damp. Bigger is not always better.
- 7
Check what new appliances cost to run
Type the power of an appliance, how long you use it and your electricity price to see the cost per day, month and year.
How much does it cost to run this appliance?
Check my power cost →Tip: The power in watts is usually on a label on the back or bottom of the appliance.
Questions people ask
How do I work out square footage?
Multiply the length by the width of the room. For odd shapes, split the room into rectangles, find each area and add them together.
How much paint do I need for a room?
A gallon of paint often covers about 350 to 400 square feet with one coat, but check the can. Add up your wall area, take away doors and windows, and plan for two coats.
How much extra flooring or tile should I buy?
Many people buy about 5% to 10% extra for straight layouts, and more for diagonal or patterned layouts. The extra covers cuts, broken pieces and future repairs.
What size air conditioner do I need?
It depends mostly on room size, but also on sun, ceiling height and how many people use the room. A BTU calculator gives a good starting point. A professional can check larger or tricky spaces.