Comparison

Material Estimator Calculator vs Backyard

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

Head to head
About

Material Estimator Calculator

This app helps contractors and DIYers accurately estimate material costs and quantities for construction projects. It features dimensional measurement tools, unit conversions, and a material database to optimize budgeting and ordering.

Highlights
  • Precise cost and percentage calculations
  • Integrated material size database
  • Advanced dimensional measurement tools
  • Comprehensive unit conversion
  • Efficient material requirement determination
  • Board feet and cost estimation
  • Digital record keeping
Features
Read full description

FREE Try Before You Buy trial, your App Store account is not charged by Apple during the free trial. Revolutionize Your Building Projects with the Ultimate Material Estimator App by Calculated Industries Designed for Handyman Contractors and Serious DIY enthusiasts, this app is your essential tool for precise material and cost estimation. Say goodbye to costly errors and time-consuming calculations! ---- PRECISE COST AND PERCENTAGE CALCULATIONS ---- • Quickly compute material expenses • Effortlessly integrates percentages for allowances • Optimizes your budgeting and material acquisition process ---- INTEGRATED MATERIAL SIZE DATABASE ---- • Contains built-in size specifications for widespread materials • Delivers spot-on estimations for various supplies like tiles and paint • Makes choosing and measuring materials straightforward ---- ADVANCED DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT TOOLS ---- • Offers accurate length, area, and volume calculations • Suitable for projects of all scopes • Increases the accuracy of your measurements ---- COMPREHENSIVE UNIT CONVERSION ---- • Compatible with multiple units, including metric and imperial • Facilitates easy conversion between area and volume measurements • Removes the hassle of manual unit conversion ---- EFFICIENT MATERIAL REQUIREMENT DETERMINATION ---- • Instantly identifies requirements for common construction elements • Perfect for projects involving fencing, decking, and flooring • Guarantees precise material ordering ---- BOARD FEET AND COST ESTIMATION ---- • Provides immediate cost estimates for materials • Aids in budget management and expenditure analysis • Improves the financial oversight of your projects ---- TIME-SAVING UTILITIES ---- • Multi-Format Compatibility: Works seamlessly across various measurement formats • Material Quick Find: Easily solve material requirements for several common building materials • Instant Cost Estimation: Get on-the-spot material cost assessments ---- SPECIAL FUNCTIONS FOR ENHANCED USABILITY ---- • Entry Editing: Swipe-backspace for easy correction • Cost Efficiency: Solve unit costs for smarter budgeting • Digital Record Keeping: Paperless tape for tracking calculations Transform your building material estimation with this advanced, user-friendly app by Calculated Industries, creators of the acclaimed Construction Master(R) calculators. Say hello to accuracy and efficiency in every project! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Your Free Trial period is free of charge. Subscriptions offered will automatically renew at the end of the chosen period. Payment will be charged to your Apple account upon purchase confirmation. The subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off or the subscription is canceled in settings at least one day (24 hours) before the subscription period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your Apple account Settings > Subscriptions. TRADEMARKS Material Estimator(R) and Construction Master(R) are registered trademarks of Calculated Industries, Inc. Copyright 2025.

About

Backyard

Design and visualize your ideal shed with this tool. It offers 3D previews, instant templates, and detailed framing views. Generate accurate material lists and customize every aspect of your shed design.

Highlights
  • 3D Real-Time Preview
  • Instant Shed Templates
  • Smart Framing View
  • Layer Controls
  • Accurate Materials List
  • Customizable Design Elements
  • Works Offline
Features
Read full description

Design and visualize your perfect shed with Backyard Blueprints — the fastest way to go from idea to a real build plan. KEY FEATURES: - 3D Real-Time Preview: See your shed from every angle. Rotate, zoom, and explore your design in full 3D. - Customize Everything: Adjust width, depth, wall height, roof pitch, stud spacing, siding type, and more. - Smart Framing View: Toggle between finished envelope and exposed framing to see every stud, rafter, header, and hurricane tie. - Layer Controls: Isolate floor, walls, roof, doors, windows, siding, and sheathing (wall and roof separately) to inspect each system independently. - Finishing Details: Choose from more siding options with paint colors as well as stains. And even add decorative shutters. - Doors, Windows & Vents Anywhere: Place them on any wall. - Works Offline: Your designs are saved locally on your device. No account required, no internet needed after first load. - Free to Design: No ads, no subscriptions. Design and preview for free. Perfect for DIY builders, homeowners planning a backyard project, or anyone who wants to visualize a shed before breaking ground. Backyard Blueprints — design your dream shed in 30 seconds.

Screenshots

Material Estimator Calculator4 screens
Backyard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Backyard at 100% against Material Estimator Calculator's 41%. Backyard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Material Estimator Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (3.1K vs 3). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Material Estimator Calculator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Backyard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backyard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Material Estimator Calculator has 3.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Material Estimator Calculator's written reviews are positive against 100% of Backyard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, Backyard fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Material Estimator Calculator versus Backyard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaterial Estimator CalculatorBackyard
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.1K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.1K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB5 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperCalculated IndustriesJoe Bienkowski

Customer experience

Material Estimator Calculator

All ratings3,148 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive41.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative55.7%

Backyard

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Material Estimator Calculator

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes repeatedly on launch
  • Subscription screen keeps appearing even after purchase

Requested features

3 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Metric unit support
  • Offline functionality

Backyard

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Material Estimator Calculator

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$3.991 Month
  • 3 Months Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$7.993 Months
  • 1 Year Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$29.991 Year
None

Backyard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Material Estimator Calculator free?
Material Estimator Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backyard free?
Backyard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Material Estimator Calculator or Backyard?
Backyard is rated higher. Material Estimator Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Backyard averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Material Estimator Calculator or Backyard have ads?
Neither Material Estimator Calculator nor Backyard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Material Estimator Calculator or Backyard?
Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, and Backyard fortnightly. Most recently, Material Estimator Calculator was updated on October 24, 2026 and Backyard on October 6, 2026.

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