Calculator library
Every deck calculation, free forever.
121 calculators planned across 9 categories. 20 highest-volume tools live across Phase 1 + 2. Every one is IRC 2021 compliant, mobile-first, and embeddable.
Material (8)
Deck Material Calculator
Calculate exact decking boards, joists, beams, posts, footings, and fasteners for your deck — IRC 2021 compliant.
Cedar Deck Calculator
Cedar deck cost + BoM. 3 species (Western Red, Eastern White, Alaskan Yellow), 4 grades (Knotty → FOHC), 4 finishes, 25-yr TCO.
Floating Deck Calculator
Floating deck cost — ground-level, no ledger, pier-block footings. 4 surface options. DIY-friendly. Often permit-exempt under 200 sqft / 24″.
Deck Board Calculator
Pattern-aware deck board count — straight / 45° diagonal / herringbone, with optional picture-frame border. 4 profiles × 5 materials × 5 stocked lengths. Cut-waste optimizer + hidden-clip count.
Square Footage Calculator
Deck square footage for any shape — rectangle, L, U, T, octagon, hexagon, round. Feet + inches inputs. Returns sqft, sqm, perimeter, plus quick BoM hooks to material + cost calculators.
Board Foot Calculator
Convert dimensioned lumber (thickness × width × length × quantity) to board feet across 13 species. Multi-row BoM mode, weight (lbs), regional $/bf cost range. 2026 retail.
Built-in Bench Calculator
Size deck built-in bench framing + decking + cost. 2×4 framing BoM, seat height, back/no-back, storage option, 5 materials. 2026 retail pricing.
Imperial / Metric Converter
Deck-focused unit converter: ft↔m, sqft↔sqm, lb↔kg, lumber nominal-to-actual (2×4→38×89mm), 11 decking board profiles with metric dimensions, plus a coverage planner.
Cost (23)
Deck Cost Calculator
Estimate full deck project cost: materials, labor, permits, and per-square-foot pricing for any size and material.
Composite Deck Cost Calculator
Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon, Deckorators by line + color. Real installed cost + 25-yr TCO vs pressure-treated. 2026 retail pricing.
Trex Deck Calculator
Trex deck cost + BoM. All 4 lines (Transcend incl. Lineage, Select, Enhance), full palette, TUHF box count, RainEscape, DeckLighting.
TimberTech Deck Calculator
TimberTech deck cost + BoM. All 6 lines (AZEK Vintage/Harvest/Landmark + PRO Reserve/Legacy + EDGE Prime+). CONCEALoc, 50-yr warranty.
Fiberon Deck Calculator
Fiberon deck cost + BoM. All 4 lines (Paramount PVC + Concordia + Promenade + Good Life). Stowaway hidden fastener (175/box), 50-yr warranty.
Deck Cost Per Square Foot Calculator
All 7 deck materials' installed $/sqft side-by-side: PT, cedar, composite (Trex/TimberTech), PVC, aluminum, tropical hardwood. 25-yr TCO. 2026 pricing.
PT Deck Cost Calculator
Pressure-treated deck cost — species + grade + UC treatment + chemistry + brand selectors with 25-yr TCO vs composite. 2026 retail pricing.
PVC Deck Cost Calculator
Full-PVC decking cost — AZEK Harvest/Vintage/Landmark/Advanced, Zuri, Wolf, Fiberon, Trex Signature. 10 lines × 5 brands. Install $ + 30-50yr TCO + composite + PT benchmarks. 2026 pricing.
Deck Labor Cost Calculator
Phase-by-phase deck labor: site prep + footings + framing + decking + railing + stairs + finishing. Material multipliers, 3 crew tiers, DIY savings model. 2026 contractor rates.
IPE Hardwood Deck Cost Calculator
Tropical hardwood deck cost — IPE / Cumaru / Tigerwood / Garapa / Massaranduba. Grade + board size + FSC + yearly oil. 40-yr TCO + composite benchmark. 2026 specialty distributor pricing.
AZEK Deck Calculator
AZEK PVC decking by line + color. Vintage / Harvest / Landmark / Advanced PVC. CoolColor heat reduction, 50-yr fade & stain warranty, Cortex fastener BoM. 2026 retail.
Deckorators Deck Calculator
Deckorators Voyage / Vault / Trailhead mineral-based composite. 35°F cooler claim, 1.5× joist span advantage (DCA-6 exception), 25-yr structural warranty. 2026 retail.
MoistureShield Deck Calculator
MoistureShield wholly-encapsulated composite — Meridian / Vision / Vantage / Elevate. Lifetime structural warranty on Meridian, water-immersion rated, CoolDeck heat reduction. 2026 retail.
Trex Transcend Calculator
Trex Transcend flagship composite — Tropical / Gravel Path / Lava Rock / Tiki Torch palette. 25-yr structural + fade & stain warranty, signature heat-tested colors. 2026 retail.
Trex Enhance Calculator
Trex Enhance entry composite — Basics + Naturals tiers (Beach Dune, Saddle, Clam Shell). Home Depot stocked, 25-yr fade & stain warranty, Trex's most affordable line. 2026 retail.
TimberTech PRO Reserve Calculator
TimberTech PRO Reserve flagship composite — Antique Leather, Driftwood, Storm Grey, Pecan. 30-yr structural + fade & stain warranty, CONCEALoc clips. 2026 retail.
TimberTech PRO Legacy Calculator
TimberTech PRO Legacy mid composite — Mocha, Tigerwood, Espresso, Ashwood. Streaked hardwood look that mimics IPE, 30-yr warranty, CONCEALoc clips. 2026 retail.
Wolf Decking Calculator
Wolf Decking — Serenity PVC + Perspective composite + Tropical Hardwoods. All-PVC alternative to AZEK at lower cost. 50-yr structural on Serenity, 25-yr on Perspective. 2026 retail.
Trex Signature Calculator
Trex Signature 2024 flagship — hardwood-realistic cap, 35-yr structural + fade warranty (Trex's longest). 6 colors (Whidbey, Aspen, Helios, Maverick, Iron Bluff, Carbonized). 2026 retail.
Zuri Premium PVC Calculator
Zuri Premium PVC by Royal — photo-realistic wood-print cap, looks like real Brazilian Walnut. 25-yr fade warranty, premium PVC tier. 2026 retail.
Deckorators Voyage Calculator
Deckorators Voyage flagship — mineral-based composite, multi-width boards (3.5/5.5/7.25″), 50-yr structural, 24″ joist OC DCA-6 exception. 6 colors. 2026 retail.
Deck Permit Cost Calculator
Estimate deck building permit cost in your state. 50-state fee table, project-value tier math, plan-review fees, IRC R109 inspection sequence. 2026 fee data.
Deck ROI Calculator
Deck investment recovery at resale — Cost vs Value 2024 data, regional ROI multipliers, PT vs composite delta. Composite deck ~52% national recoup; West Coast 68%.
Stairs (5)
Deck Stair Calculator
Risers, treads, stringer hypotenuse, and BoM for any deck height — IRC 2021 R311.7 compliant with auto handrail + landing-pad sizing.
Stair Stringer Calculator
Stringer hypotenuse, notch depth, throat (DCA-6 ≥ 5″), stringer count, stock-length pick, brackets + fasteners. IRC R311.7 + AWC DCA-6 cross-validated.
Stair Rise and Run Calculator
Equal-rise riser distribution, run depth, stringer hypotenuse, and angle for any deck height. IRC R311.7.5 + Blondel 2R + T ergonomic check. Permit-ready callout sheet.
Stair Tread Calculator
Tread board count, total LF + waste, riser boards, fasteners — across 6 materials (PT, composite, Ipe, Cumaru, cedar). IRC R311.7.5 cross-validated.
Stair Slope Calculator
Stair angle + slope ratio + IRC R311.7 compliance for residential deck stairs. Dual-mode: stair geometry AND deck-drainage slope (R507.11.2) for composite + PVC + wood decking.
Structural (11)
Joist Span Calculator
Maximum joist span for any size, species, and spacing — directly from IRC 2021 R507.6 tables.
Deck Beam Span Calculator
Maximum beam span (post-to-post) by size, ply, species, and tributary load — straight from IRC R507.5 / DCA-6.
Hot Tub Deck Calculator
Hot tub deck structural calc — point-load math, doubled joists, dedicated beam, oversized 18″ footings. Engineer-flag for cantilever / extreme load.
Multi-Level Deck Calculator
Multi-level deck cost + structural sizing for two-tier decks. Lower + upper deck w/ connector stair, 14″ Ø footings under upper-deck posts, +25% labor complexity.
Wraparound Deck Calculator
L-shape & U-shape wraparound deck cost. Segmented framing, inner-corner reinforcement, 3 corner strategies, +15% labor complexity. PT, composite, cedar.
Octagon Deck Calculator
Octagon (8-sided) deck cost + structural sizing. Area = 2(1+√2)·s². Chord joists, 22.5° mitred rim, 8 vertex posts, 15-20% decking waste, IRC R312/R507.
Round Deck Calculator
Round (circular) deck cost + structural sizing — faceted-polygon framing model (12/16/24/32 facets). 25-28% decking waste. Highest labor premium of any deck shape.
Hexagon Deck Calculator
Hexagon (6-sided) deck cost + structural sizing. Area = (3√3/2)·s². 30° mitred rim, 6 vertex posts, 13-18% decking waste — most DIY-friendly geometric shape.
Deck Joist Calculator
Joist count, size (2×6 / 2×8 / 2×10 / 2×12), spacing (12 / 16 / 24 o.c.), blocking, and hangers — IRC R502 + R507. Pairs with the Joist Span Calculator for full structural sizing.
Deck Cantilever Calculator
IRC R507.6 joist overhang validator. Checks 3 rules: L/4 of back-span, 24″ absolute, total joist span. Pass/fail + beam moment multiplier + blocking spec. AWC DCA-6 backed.
Deck Post Spacing Calculator
IRC R507.5 beam-to-post spacing sizer. 12 beam profiles (double/triple 2×8/10/12, solid 4×6 to 6×10), 4 species, tributary + load. Post count + post size + Simpson connector spec. DCA-6 backed.
Railings (11)
Glass Railing Calculator
Tempered + laminated glass deck railing — framed ($80-130/lf) or frameless ($180-280/lf). Panel sizing, glass weight, substrate load. 3 thicknesses × 4 treatments × 5 brands. IBC 2407 + ASTM E2353.
Cable Railing Calculator
Stainless cable railing — 11 cables @ 36″ guard, tension load on end posts, post spacing 4-6′ by diameter. 5 brands (Feeney, Atlantis, Ultra-tec, Viewrail, generic) × 3 diameters × 4 substrates. IRC R312.
Railing Linear Feet Calculator
Total deck railing LF — perimeter minus attached sides minus gates, plus stair handrail. 5 materials (PT cap, composite, cable, glass, aluminum). IRC R312 + R311.7 auto-checks. 4 shapes: rect / L / U / custom.
Baluster Spacing Calculator
Even baluster spacing for any railing length — IRC R312.1.3 4-inch sphere check, 7 styles, 1/16″ precision, side-elevation SVG.
Composite Railing Calculator
Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon, Deckorators composite railing kit BoM + 7-brand cost comparison. Square/round/composite/glass infill. IRC R312.1.3 compliant.
Baluster Count Calculator
How many balusters + total cost across 7 styles side-by-side. Level + stair runs, waste factor, new-build / replacement mode. IRC R312.1.3 (4″) + R311.7.5.1 (4 3/8″).
Privacy Screen Calculator
Size privacy screen panels + posts + cost. 6 styles (lattice, slat, louvered, decorative) × 5 materials (PT, cedar, composite, aluminum, vinyl). Deck-mounted or freestanding.
Railing Post Calculator
Engineering-grade deck railing post calculator. 5 post materials × 8 mounting methods. IRC R301.5 200 lb concentrated-load check, DCA-6 capacity ratio, full hardware BoM + Simpson DTT2Z hold-downs.
Deck Railing Cost Calculator
Installed railing cost across 8 systems: PT, cedar, composite (Trex/TimberTech), PVC (AZEK), cable (Feeney), glass, aluminum (Westbury), steel. 3 styles each, brand-matched kits, DIY vs contractor.
Stair Handrail Calculator
IRC R311.7.8 stair-handrail design. Type 1/Type 2 grip validation, 34-38" height check, returns + ADA 505 mode. 7 materials × 4 mounting styles. Full hardware BoM with brackets + return fittings.
Aluminum Railing Calculator
5-brand aluminum railing kit calculator: Westbury, AFCO, Fortress, Key-Link, Wolf. 5 styles (classic, cable, glass, vertical-cable, horizontal-rail) × 6 powder colors. AAMA 2604 30-yr fade warranty.
Footings (6)
Deck Footing Calculator
Footing diameter, depth, concrete volume, and bag count — IRC R507.3 sized + frost depth lookup for all 50 states.
Footing Depth Calculator
Per-footing IRC R507.3 sizer: depth from frost + structural, diameter from soil bearing, rebar spec, concrete order. 5 soils × 4 footing types.
Frost Depth Calculator
IRC R403.1.4 footing-depth lookup. State + 80+ metro lookup, soil + elevation refinement, FPSF strategy. Free + free forever.
Concrete Calculator
Concrete volume + bag count + ready-mix delivery decision tool. Cylindrical/square/bell-bottom/slab geometry. 60lb + 80lb bags (Quikrete/Sakrete). Regional ready-mix pricing. IRC R507.3.1.2 rebar spec.
Fire Pit Pad Calculator
Size your fire pit pad: concrete, paver, or stone. Pad dimensions + bag/paver count + heat shield clearance check. Wood + gas fire pit support.
Concrete Bag Calculator
Bag-count optimizer for post holes, slabs, sonotubes, pier blocks. 15 SKUs across Quikrete + Sakrete + generic in 40-90 lb sizes. Pallet pricing tiers + mixer rental advisory + ready-mix breakpoint.
Maintenance (4)
Deck Stain Calculator
How many gallons of stain — real surface-area model, 13 brands (Cabot, Behr, Olympic, Defy), wood absorbency, stocked-size bundle.
Deck Sealer Calculator
Coverage + cost engine for clear deck sealers. Thompson's WaterSeal, Olympic, Cabot, Penofin Marine, Behr, Ready Seal. Surface condition + method + multi-year maintenance schedule. 2026 pricing.
Deck Refinishing Cost Calculator
Phase-by-phase deck refinishing cost: power-wash + strip + sand + brighten + apply. 5 current × 4 new finishes × 3 conditions. DIY material + pro full-service + hybrid. 2026 regional pricing.
Stain vs Sealer Calculator
Decision tool comparing pigmented stain (semi-trans / solid) vs clear sealer (water-based / oil-based). 10-dimension scoreboard, color preference + wood condition aware. 10-yr TCO.
Compare (7)
Composite vs Wood Comparison
Side-by-side comparison: cost, lifespan, maintenance, and total 20-year cost of composite vs pressure-treated wood.
Trex vs TimberTech Comparison Calculator
Side-by-side: Trex (Enhance/Select/Transcend/Signature) vs TimberTech (EDGE/PRO/AZEK/Advanced PVC). 25-yr TCO, warranty, lifespan, heat, weight, recycled content — 9-dimension scoreboard.
Cedar vs Pressure-Treated Comparison Calculator
Western Red / Eastern White cedar vs pressure-treated SYP/SPF — 25-yr TCO, lifespan, maintenance, decay-resistance, aesthetic comparison. 2026 lumber-yard pricing.
Composite vs PVC Decking Comparison Calculator
Capped composite (Trex/TimberTech composite) vs full PVC (AZEK/Zuri/Wolf). Heat retention, lifespan, weight, recyclability, cost per sqft + 25-yr TCO. 2026 pricing.
DIY vs Contractor Deck Cost Calculator
Real cash + effective-cost comparison: DIY (retail materials + tools + permits + mistake budget) vs contractor (trade discount + class-based labor + warranty). 5-step skill slider, opportunity-cost slider, break-even $/hr.
25-Year Deck Cost Calculator
True lifecycle cost across PT / cedar / composite / PVC / IPE on one chart. Year-by-year cost curve, sealing + restain schedule, replacement reveal, recoup at sale. 25-yr TCO ranking.
IPE vs Composite Calculator
Tropical hardwood (IPE / Cumaru / Tigerwood) vs capped composite. Janka hardness, density, FSC certification, 50-yr lifespan, 25-yr TCO with re-oiling schedule. Brand examples + sustainability flag.