Renovation Compass exists to answer one question well: how much do I actually need? Whether that's gallons of paint, boxes of flooring, cubic yards of concrete or the realistic budget for a kitchen, we turn a measurement into a number you can buy against.
Why we built it
Renovations go over budget for a boring reason: the quantities are wrong, or the waste factor got left out, and a second trip to the store — or a mismatched dye lot — costs time and money. We wanted calculators that use the same coverage rates and waste factors the trades use, presented in plain English, with a short explainer so you understand the number rather than just trust it.
How our calculators work
Every calculator here uses defensible, industry-standard formulas and builds in a waste allowance where it matters. We show the math behind each result so you can sanity-check it, and we're upfront that these are estimates — always confirm final quantities and prices with your supplier or contractor.
Beyond a single number
Most projects aren't one calculation. They're paint and flooring and tile and a contractor, all pulling on one budget. That's why we built the Home Renovation Project Manager — a web app, Excel and Google Sheets system that rolls every calculator into a single budget-versus-actual plan, room by room.
How we stay free
The calculators and guides are free and always will be. The site is supported by advertising and by the premium Project Manager. We don't require sign-up to use a calculator, and the numbers you enter aren't stored on our servers — they're computed right in your browser.
Questions, corrections or a formula you'd like us to add? Email contact@RenovationCompass.com — we read every message.