Construction Materials Guide. Construction materials represent 30-50 percent of total project costs. Successful projects require accurate material calculations preventing waste and shortages. This comprehensive guide connects all construction calculators for complete project planning. Material categories: Structural materials foundation, framing, concrete, steel. Envelope materials roofing, siding, windows, doors. Interior finishes drywall, flooring, paint, tile. Mechanical electrical, plumbing, HVAC. Landscaping grading, drainage, plants, hardscaping. Each category has specific calculation methods and ordering procedures. Concrete and masonry: Concrete measured in cubic yards, poured foundations, slabs, footings. Calculate volume length times width times depth divided by 27. Typical costs 100-150 per yard delivered. Blocks and bricks measured by count, calculate wall area divided by unit area. Mortar by bags, one bag per 8 blocks or 36 bricks. Rebar by linear feet with 10 percent waste. See Concrete Calculator, Brick Calculator, Block Calculator for detailed calculations. Framing lumber: Dimensional lumber 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12 sold by linear foot. Calculate studs based on wall length and spacing 16 or 24 inches OC. Plates run full wall length. Headers sized by span tables. Engineered lumber LVL and I-joists by engineering specifications. Sheet goods OSB and plywood by 4×8 sheets. Costs 0.50-2.00 per linear foot depending on size. See Framing Calculator for wall materials. Roofing materials: Shingles sold by square (100 sq ft). Calculate roof area accounting for pitch factor, add 10 percent waste. Underlayment by rolls covers 200-400 sq ft. Flashing by linear feet. Ridge cap by linear feet ridge. Costs 80-150 per square materials for architectural shingles. See Roofing Calculator for complete material lists including ventilation and ice shield. Siding and exterior: Vinyl siding by squares 100 sq ft. Fiber cement by piece 12-foot boards. Wood siding by linear feet or squares. Calculate wall area minus openings, add 10-15 percent waste. Trim and corners extra. House wrap by roll 1,000-1,500 sq ft. Costs 3-12 per sq ft installed depending on material type. Windows and doors: Calculate by count and size. Windows sold by unit, costs 200-2,000 each depending on size and features. Doors exterior 200-1,500 each, interior 50-300 each. Trim and hardware additional. Energy-efficient options cost more upfront but save long-term. Insulation materials: Fiberglass batts by square foot coverage, R-value determines thickness. Blown-in by bags covers 40-60 sq ft at R-30. Spray foam by board foot. Calculate wall and ceiling area separately. Costs 0.50-3.00 per sq ft depending on type and R-value. Higher R-value better insulation but costs more. Drywall and plaster: Drywall sheets 4×8 or 4×12. Calculate area divided by sheet size, add 10-15 percent waste. Joint compound 1 gallon per 100 sq ft for standard finish. Tape and fasteners. Costs 10-15 per sheet for 1/2 inch. Installation 1.50-3.00 per sq ft. Finishing 1.50-3.00 per sq ft. See Drywall Calculator and Plaster Calculator for detailed quantities. Flooring materials: Hardwood by square feet plus 10 percent waste. Tile by square feet plus pattern waste 10-20 percent. Carpet by square yards divide sq ft by 9. Vinyl and laminate by square feet or boxes. Costs 2-25 per sq ft installed depending on material. See Tile Calculator and Carpet Calculator. Grout and thin-set by bags, coverage varies by tile size. Paint and finishes: Paint by gallons, coverage 350-400 sq ft per gallon per coat. Calculate wall area including ceiling, two coats standard. Primer if needed add 25-40 percent materials. Costs 20-70 per gallon depending on quality. See Paint Calculator with detailed coverage rates by surface type. Trim paint requires separate calculation. Exterior materials: Decking boards by linear feet, calculate area divided by board width 5.5 inches actual. Railing by linear feet system. Stairs by steps. Fence boards by linear feet, posts by count. Concrete for post holes. Fasteners. See Decking Calculator and Fence Calculator for complete material lists including structural components. Landscaping materials: Mulch by cubic yards, calculate area times depth divided by 324. Delivery economical 5+ yards. Soil and compost by cubic yards. Plants by count. Pavers by square feet plus 5 percent waste. Edging by linear feet. See Mulch Calculator. Irrigation by zones based on coverage area. Mechanical and electrical: Electrical wire by circuit, 250 feet average per circuit. Boxes by count. Panel and breakers. Conduit for exposed runs. Plumbing pipe by fixture plus 20 percent waste. Fixtures by count. HVAC by system size tonnage based on square footage and insulation. These trades typically material + labor packages. Material ordering strategies: Order 5-15 percent extra for waste and future repairs. Buy same lot or batch for color consistency especially paint and tiles. Delivery scheduling coordinate to minimize storage and damage. Phased ordering large projects order as needed, small projects order once saves delivery fees. Return policies keep receipts, most stores accept unopened materials 30-90 days. Bulk discounts negotiate 5-15 percent off large orders. Material cost tracking: Create detailed material list before starting. Get quotes from 3+ suppliers. Track actual usage vs estimate. Identify waste sources and improve. Update estimates for future projects. Software or spreadsheet simplifies. Budget 10 percent contingency for unknowns. Project planning sequence: Demolition and site work first. Foundation and structure. Rough-in mechanical electrical plumbing. Insulation and drywall. Interior finishes flooring, paint, trim. Exterior finishes. Landscaping last. Order materials just-in-time for each phase. Staging materials minimize damage and theft. Storage and protection: Cover materials from weather moisture damages most materials. Stack lumber flat prevents warping. Tile and stone flat prevents cracking. Store fasteners and hardware in dry location rust prevention. Lock valuable items theft common on job sites. Organize by phase speeds work and prevents damage. Common ordering mistakes: Ordering too little causes delays and color matching issues. Ordering too much wastes money and storage space. Wrong sizes check dimensions carefully. Different lots mismatched colors or textures. Forgetting fasteners, trim, and accessories focuses only on main materials. Not coordinating delivery timing creates storage and security problems. FAQ: What percentage of project is materials? Typically 30-50 percent, varies by project type. How much extra should I order? 5-10 percent for hard materials, 10-20 percent for complex patterns. Can I return unused materials? Most stores yes if unopened with receipt within 30-90 days. Where should I buy materials? Big box stores convenient, lumber yards better quality and selection, specialty suppliers for unique items. Should I buy all at once? Small projects yes saves delivery fees. Large projects phase to reduce storage and damage. How to calculate total materials? Use calculators for each category, sum all costs, add contingency.