About Yardstickly
Yardstickly makes free calculators for home and garden projects. Each one turns your measurements into a shopping list in the units and pack sizes sold where you live, so you buy the right amount the first time.
We focus on a small number of tools and try to make each one accurate and easy to use on a phone, in the aisle or in the yard.
Who checks the numbers
Alex Rowan, Editor
Alex Rowan is the name our editor writes under. Alex is responsible for every calculator and guide on Yardstickly: checking each formula against hand-worked examples, taking product figures from manufacturer data sheets and university extension guidance, and making sure the guides use the same calculations as the tools. Alex also handles corrections: when a reader reports an error, Alex checks it against the source, fixes it and updates the review date.
How we check the numbers
- Every formula is published. The How we calculate page sets out each formula, constant and assumption.
- Every calculator is tested. Each one is checked against worked examples calculated by hand, including awkward inputs, before it goes live and every time it changes.
- Product figures come from the maker. Bag yields and pack sizes come from manufacturer data sheets or product pages, linked where we use them. Where we have to assume a typical figure, such as the weight of gravel, we say so and let you change it.
- Guides use the same code. The tables in our guides are produced by the same calculations as the calculators, so they always agree.
Corrections
If you find a mistake, a missing pack size or a product figure that has changed, tell us. We check every report against the source, fix confirmed errors, and update the page's review date.
How the site is funded
The calculators are free. The site is supported by advertising and, where we say so on the page, affiliate links. Neither affects the numbers you get, and no company pays to be included.
What we don't do
These are planning estimates, not engineering or building advice. For structural work, footings and anything covered by building codes or regulations, check with your local authority or a qualified professional.