About Plank & Plot
Plank & Plot is built and maintained by ohmacoder, an independent developer who makes small, free tools for everyday projects. It isn’t owned by a retailer or a paint brand, and no manufacturer pays to be featured.
Why it exists
Most “how much do I need” calculators online have one of three problems. Some are run by a brand and quietly assume its own product. Some give you a single number with no explanation, so you can’t tell whether it fits your project. And many are buried under so many ads that the calculator is hard to find on a phone.
The calculators here try to answer the question you’d ask at the store: how many cans, boxes, or bags should I actually buy? So every result:
- rounds up to the package sizes stores really sell,
- adds a waste allowance you can see and change,
- estimates the cost with prices you can edit,
- and shows the math, step by step.
How we check the numbers
Coverage rates, bag yields, and recommended depths come from manufacturer data sheets, university extension services, and public data from agencies such as the USDA and NOAA. Each calculator lists its sources at the bottom of the page along with the date it was last updated. When a source gives a range, we use the cautious end, so you’re more likely to have a little left over than to run short.
We also test the formulas with automated checks every time the site is updated. If you think a result is wrong, please contact us with the numbers you entered. Corrections get fixed first. You can read more about our approach on the how we calculate page.
How the site is paid for
Plank & Plot is free to use. It’s supported by ads from Google and by affiliate links on some pages. Neither one changes how the calculators work. The details are on our affiliate disclosure page.
Your privacy
There are no accounts, and the calculators run entirely in your browser, so your measurements are never sent to us. See the privacy policy for the full details.
Last updated .