Free backyard building & garden calculators
Build your garden, board by board.
Turn your measurements into a shopping list and a cost estimate for decks, raised beds, paths and fences — then look up exactly how to grow what goes in them.
Calculators that do the math for you
Enter your measurements, get a shopping list and a cost estimate — no guessing, no spreadsheets.
Raised Bed Soil Calculator
How much topsoil, compost, and aerator you need to fill a bed.
Deck Calculator
Decking boards, joists, and screws for a small platform.
Paver Path Calculator
Pavers, gravel base, and sand for a walkway or patio.
Concrete Footing Calculator
Bags of concrete to set fence or arbor posts.
Mulch Calculator
Bags or bulk yards of mulch for a planting bed.
Garden Fence Calculator
Posts, rails, and mesh rolls for a garden fence.
What we're building
Five categories of garden DIY projects, each paired with a calculator and step-by-step guides.
Raised Beds
Framing, board sizing, and soil volume for beds that last.
Paths & Patios
Paver layouts, base depth, and material takeoffs.
Garden Fences
Post spacing, rails, and mesh to keep the harvest safe.
Garden Structures
Small pergolas, arbors, and trellises for climbing plants.
Soil & Mulch
Coverage math for topsoil, compost, and mulch depth.
From the Plant Library
Sun, water, spacing and planting dates for what you'll grow in the beds you build.
Common questions
- Are the Plot & Plank calculators free?
- Yes. Every calculator is free to use, with no sign-up. Enter your measurements and the results update as you type.
- What do the calculators give me?
- Quantities rounded up to units you can actually buy (bags, boards, cubic yards), a shopping list, and a cost estimate based on prices you can edit to match your local store.
- Do the results include extra material for waste?
- Yes. Each calculator adds a waste margin — 10% by default — and you can change it to fit your project.
- How accurate are the estimates?
- They are estimates for planning and shopping, not professional advice. Always check local codes and product labels, and consult a professional for anything structural.