Comparison

Construction Master Pro Calc vs Baluster Layout

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Construction Master Pro Calc

This app is a powerful construction calculator designed for professionals working with dimensions. It offers a wide range of solutions for dimensional math, right angle calculations, area and volume, and special functions, helping to improve speed and accuracy in layouts, bids, and estimates.

Highlights
  • Dimensional math and conversions
  • Right angle and rafter calculations
  • Area and volume solutions
  • Full trigonometric functions
  • Built-in user's guide and help
  • Save and share calculations
  • Project notes and attachments
Features
Read full description

FREE Try Before You Buy 14 Day Trial; your App Store account is not charged by Apple during the free trial. Rated 4.8 stars with over 1.12M downloads. The trusted construction calculator used by professionals across the US and the world. The go-to feet-inch-fraction calculator for framers, contractors, and builders. Includes Construction Master Pro and Construction Master Pro Trig in one app, with the CMPro Training Guide built in. Built with the same core engine that powers the industry-standard advanced construction-math calculators from Calculated Industries. Award-winning tools trusted by the industry for 40 years. BUILT FOR THE JOBSITE • Framers and carpenters: rafter cuts, stair layouts, lumber quantities, and framing calculations on the job • Builders and general contractors: estimates, material takeoffs, and building layouts • Concrete and masonry: footing volume, block counts, and unit conversions • Roofing contractors: bundles, squares, pitch, and slope in seconds WHY PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE CONSTRUCTION MASTER® PRO • Powerful built-in calculations make CMPro ideal for completing layouts, plans, bids, and estimates • Work in and convert between all common building dimensional formats US & Metric • Built-in right angle functions simplify square-ups, rafters, slopes, and more • Handles framing, roofing, concrete, lumber, and stair calculations in one app • Full trigonometric functions for advanced construction math BUILT-IN SOLUTIONS • Dimensional Math and Conversions • Feet-Inch-Fraction, Inch Fraction, Yards • Decimal Feet and Inches (10ths, 100ths) • Preset Fractions (1/2" through 1/64") • D:M:S, Decimal Degree Entry and Conversions • Full Metric Function (m, cm, mm) RIGHT ANGLE SOLUTIONS • Complete Right Angle/Rafter Calculations • Pitch Key (Slope and Grade) • Rise, Run, Diagonal/Common Rafter Keys • Regular and Irregular Hip/Valley & Jack Rafter Keys • Rafter Cutting Angles (Plumb, Cheek, and Level Cuts) • Stair Layouts (including – Riser Limit, Stairwell Opening, Headroom, Floor Thickness) • Rake-Wall (including Arched) AREA AND VOLUME SOLUTIONS • Square and Cubic • Roof – Bundles, Squares, 4x8 Sheets, Pitch, Plan Area • Drywall, Siding and Paneling 4x8, 4x9 and 4x12 • Column/Cone Area and Volume -- • Basic & Advanced Circular Calculations • Weight per Volume Conversions • Length, Width, and Height Keys • Blocks, Footings SPECIAL FUNCTIONS • Trigonometric Function Keys: Sine, Cosine, Tangent, Arcsine, Arccosine, Arctangent • Board Feet • Studs: Find number On-center • User-Definable Preferences • Cost per Unit (total costs based on unit price) • Equal-Sided Polygon • Compound Miters • Crown Angle • Advanced Paperless Tape APP-ENHANCED FEATURES • Ask CMPro – exact steps for any calculation. AI built on CMPro’s 40 years of proven math • CMPro Toolbelt -- quick access to every tool, customizable for your workflow • Fast Fractions Mode -- dedicated fraction keys for faster, more precise entry • Materials Mode -- streamlined estimating for drywall, roofing, lumber, and more • Project Notes -- create text or voice-to-text notes, set up folders by project or client, add attachments, and share with your crew • EZ Calcs – 100+ forms-based calculators with illustrations for framing, concrete, roofing quantities, and much more. • Searchable Help and how-to videos • Context-sensitive Help -- press and hold any function key for Help text, diagrams, and videos • Save and share calculations and outputs (e.g., cut lists) with others on your crew • Bosch GLM integration -- send measured values into live calculations or Notes SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Apple account Settings > Account (Apple ID) > Subscriptions. TRADEMARKS Construction Master® and Calculated Industries® are registered trademarks of Calculated Industries, Inc. Copyright 2026

About

Baluster Layout

Easily calculate the number and placement of balusters for deck or stair railings. Input railing length, baluster width, and spacing to ensure code compliance. Supports multiple rail sections and units of measurement.

Highlights
  • Calculate baluster quantity
  • Determine baluster placement
  • Support for multiple rail sections
  • Inch and centimeter units
  • Building code compliance assistance
  • Share results via text or email
Features
Read full description

Calculate how many balusters you’ll need for a deck or stair railing by entering the railing length, baluster width and spacing. Multiple rail sections can be entered. Can use inches or centimeters. The results will show how many balusters are needed for each section and the location that each baluster should be attached to meet the proper spacing. Making sure your structure is compliant with local building codes is important and this App will help get the proper spacing. The results can be shared by text or email.

Screenshots

Construction Master Pro Calc4 screens
Baluster Layout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Construction Master Pro Calc at Free against Baluster Layout's $1.99. Construction Master Pro Calc also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (41K vs 24). Baluster Layout's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Construction Master Pro Calc is free to download; Baluster Layout costs $1.99 up front. Construction Master Pro Calc sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Baluster Layout asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Construction Master Pro Calc holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Construction Master Pro Calc has 41K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Construction Master Pro Calc versus Baluster Layout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterConstruction Master Pro CalcBaluster Layout
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (41K ratings) — better4.3 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews60.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings41K — better24
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#50 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB0 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCalculated IndustriesH3Apps LLC

Customer experience

Construction Master Pro Calc

All ratings40,354 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews326 reviews
Positive60.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative34.4%

Baluster Layout

All ratings24 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Construction Master Pro Calc

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes or freezes on certain devices
  • Calculation errors in some scenarios
  • Inconsistent behavior after updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add metric unit support
  • Offer one-time purchase option
  • Improve backup and data transfer
  • Add more customization options
  • Enhance overall user experience

Baluster Layout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Construction Master Pro Calc

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Month Full Access14 Days trial4 variants$4.991 Month
  • 1 Month Full Access7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • 1 Year Full Access14 Days trial4 variants$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • 1 Year Full Access7 Days trial$39.991 Year
None

Baluster Layout

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Construction Master Pro Calc free?
Construction Master Pro Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Baluster Layout free?
Baluster Layout costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Construction Master Pro Calc or Baluster Layout?
Construction Master Pro Calc is rated higher. Construction Master Pro Calc averages 4.8 out of 5 from 41K ratings, while Baluster Layout averages 4.3 from 24 ratings.
Do Construction Master Pro Calc or Baluster Layout have ads?
Neither Construction Master Pro Calc nor Baluster Layout shows ads.

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