Material Cost Estimator
Multi-currency material costing with waste, kerf, markup, and VAT calculations
Material Lines
No materials defined yet. Click "Add Material" to get started.
Waste vs Kerf: Use kerf/trim for dimensional saw loss on linear/area items; use waste % for irregular offcuts and handling loss.
Mixed currencies: You can price each line in different currencies—the tool converts everything to your project currency.
Board feet rule (imperial): bf = (L″×W″×T″)/144. Only available in imperial mode.
VAT considerations: If supplier prices include VAT, enable "include VAT" to avoid double taxation.
Exchange rates: Use the FX tab to override automatic rates with locked supplier quotes.
CSV Import: Download the template to see the required format. All fields except category, description, and unitPrice are optional.
Bulk operations: Use the clone button to duplicate similar materials, then edit the quantities or prices.
Contingency planning: Set contingency percentage to account for price changes, delivery issues, or design modifications.
Markup vs margin: Markup adds percentage to cost (50% markup = cost × 1.5). For 20% margin, use ~25% markup.
Supplier URLs: Save product links for easy reordering and price verification. Links open in new tabs for convenience.
Project organization: Use vendor grouping for purchase orders, category grouping for material takeoffs and specifications.
Rounding strategy: Use 2 decimals for quotes, whole numbers for rough estimates. Consider supplier minimum quantities.
Material Cost Estimator: A project budget calculator for material quantities and pricing totals.
How it works
- Add materials with unit cost, quantity, and waste factors.
- Set tax, markup, or currency options if needed.
- The tool computes subtotal, adjustments, and final estimate.