Hi, I’m Jason.
I started ShedCalculator.com the way a lot of good projects start: with too much stuff in my garage.
What began as one homemade calculator for my own backyard shed has grown into a full set of free planning tools, used by homeowners and DIYers who want real numbers before they buy a single board.
How It Started
Like most people, I reached the point where the garage just couldn’t hold any more. Tools, yard equipment, and seasonal gear were piled everywhere, and I decided it was time to build a shed.
Before I bought anything, I wanted to know what the materials would actually cost. So I went looking for a shed cost calculator. What I found was frustrating. Most tools were little more than a single price per square foot. They didn’t count studs, floor panels, wall panels, or shingles, and they didn’t account for what lumber actually costs where you live. I couldn’t plan a real budget with them.
So I built my own. I worked out how many studs, sheets of plywood, and bundles of shingles a shed of a given size really needs, then priced each item. That gave me a total I could actually trust. It helped me plan and build my shed, and once it was done, I figured other people could use it too. That calculator became the first version of ShedCalculator.com.
What ShedCalculator.com Has Become
After the first calculator went live, readers started asking questions I hadn’t thought of. How thick should my slab be? How much paint do I need? What will it cost to move my shed to a new house? Each question turned into a new tool. Today the site includes:
- Shed Cost Calculator: a full project estimate with a materials list, regional pricing, permit guidance, and build time
- Wood Shed Framing & Material Calculator: a board-by-board lumber takeoff you can take to the store
- Concrete Slab Thickness Calculator: matches your foundation to what you’ll store
- Shed Paint Calculator: gallons of paint, primer, and trim paint, plus the cost
- She Shed Cost Calculator: for finished spaces with insulation, electrical, and HVAC
- Metal Building Cost Calculator and Pole Barn Cost Calculator: for bigger garages, shops, and barns
- Shed Moving Cost Calculator: what it costs to relocate a shed across the yard or across the state
- Shed Space Calculator and Shed Finder: help choosing the right size and comparing shed options
Alongside the tools, I write practical guides on the questions that come up during a real build, like whether you need a permit, choosing a foundation, and picking the best shed plans.
How I Build the Calculators
I still approach every tool the same way I approached my own shed: count the actual materials, then price them realistically.
- Real takeoffs, not guesses. Wherever possible, the calculators count individual pieces, such as studs, joists, sheets, and bundles, instead of relying on a single per-square-foot number.
- Current pricing. I check prices against current retailer and industry cost data and refresh the tools regularly. Many calculators let you enter your own local prices.
- Regional adjustments. Material and labor costs vary a lot across the country, so most tools let you pick your region.
- Honest ranges. Every project is different, so I show typical ranges and flag the things that can blow up a budget, like wide-load permits, poor soil, or low roof pitches.
The results are planning estimates, not a substitute for a local quote or your building department. See the Disclaimer for details.
Keeping It Free
Every calculator on this site is free to use. I cover the costs of running it through advertising and affiliate partnerships, and I may earn a commission if you buy something through a link, at no extra cost to you. Those partnerships never change what the calculators tell you. You can read exactly how that works in our Affiliate Disclosure.
Let’s Build Something
Many of the best improvements to this site came from readers. If you spot a number that looks off, have an idea for a new calculator, or just want to share the shed you built, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with your build.
— Jason Keeley, founder of ShedCalculator.com