Workshop guide
How to read a material shopping list at the store
Turn a material estimate into the bags, boxes, or cases you can buy. Check actual package coverage, update quantities, and save a purchase PDF.
Read these fields before buying
- Project quantity: check the dimensions, units, and whether the total includes your chosen waste allowance.
- Product and package: match the exact product, bag yield, box coverage, or pieces per case to the label.
- Purchase quantity: round up to the whole packages the store sells. The extra from rounding is separate from the waste allowance already included.
- Open items: confirm availability, price, delivery, and any material listed without a calculated quantity. A blank value is still unknown.
Concrete: use yield, not just bag weight
Divide the required cubic feet, including your chosen allowance, by the product's cubic feet per bag. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 lists approximate yields of 0.60 cu ft for an 80 lb bag and 0.45 cu ft for a 60 lb bag. Those values do not establish the yield of every product with the same weight. Source: QUIKRETE product data.
Example: your total is 44 cu ft, already including the allowance. At 0.45 cu ft per bag, 44 รท 0.45 = 97.78, so buy 98 whole bags. Do not add the same allowance again.
In the concrete calculator, choose one supply method and update the actual package yield. If you choose ready-mix, keep the calculated volume and supplier-confirmed order quantity distinct. The 60 lb, 80 lb, and ready-mix results are alternatives.
Match the calculation to the selling unit
| Material | Check on the product label or with the store |
|---|---|
| Mulch | Cubic feet per bag. Divide the required volume by that amount; confirm the unit for a bulk quote. |
| Flooring | Square feet per box. Divide the area including your allowance by box coverage, then round up to whole boxes. |
| Tile | Whether it is sold by piece or case. Convert a tile count using pieces per case, or an area using the stated case coverage. |
| Paint | Container size and product coverage. Keep the planned coat count and any separate primer requirement visible. |
Tile, thinset, and grout each need their own quantity basis. For example, CUSTOM's grout coverage chart varies with tile dimensions and joint width for the specified product and package. Check the relevant product data before using a default coverage value. Source: CUSTOM grout coverage chart.
Save a sheet you can use at the counter
After updating the product and purchase quantity, download a Letter or A4 purchase PDF. Include a project name, selected supply method, product details, supplier, and useful notes. Check that the PDF shows your latest inputs and the assumptions used.
For a supplier quote, use the sheet to record confirmed quantities and current prices. Ask which delivery, minimum-load, equipment, or other charges apply to your project. See how to compare bags and ready-mix quotes.
Product sources checked September 8, 2026. A purchase sheet records a material estimate; product suitability, stock, prices, and final order details still need confirmation. Return to all calculators.