Construction Guru
The world's best construction calculator.
Built From Real Frustrations
I used Construction Master Pro for years. Then one day, I started getting prompts to subscribe. I’d already paid for the app. I thought I had the best version. But the pricing model had changed — and now I was being asked to keep paying for something I thought I already owned.
So instead of complaining, I decided to build something better.
I read hundreds of reviews across every construction calculator on the App Store. I studied what people loved and what drove them crazy. Then I set out to build an app that does everything the industry standard does — and adds what it should have had all along.
What Users Actually Asked For
We went straight to the source — real reviews, real frustrations, real wishlists from people who use construction calculators every day.
| What users complained about | How Construction Guru handles it |
|---|---|
| Subscription pricing ($20-40/year) | $19.99 one-time purchase. Period. |
| Screen locks mid-measurement, calculation lost | Keep-screen-on mode while the app is active |
| 1/64” results don’t match standard tape measures | Choose 1/16”, 1/32”, or 1/64” in Settings |
| Confusing key sequences for beginners | Traditional keypad for pros + guided calculators for everyone else |
| Values cleared when switching apps | Auto-save calculation state — pick up where you left off |
| No baluster or fence calculators | Both included, with code compliance, visual previews, and multi-run project planning |
| No code compliance checking | Automatic IRC/IBC flags on stairs and balusters |
| Can’t see results update as you adjust inputs | All guided calculators show live results instantly |
Feature Comparison
Everything the industry standard construction calculators do — plus what they don’t.
Core Math & Conversions
| Feature | Other Apps | Construction Guru |
|---|---|---|
| Feet-inch-fraction math | Yes | Yes |
| Area & volume calculations | Yes | Yes |
| Unit conversions (imperial & metric) | Yes | Yes |
| Board feet | Yes | Yes |
| Trigonometry (sin/cos/tan/arc) | Yes | Yes |
| Paperless tape | Yes | Yes |
Where Construction Guru Goes Further
| Feature | Other Apps | Construction Guru |
|---|---|---|
| Baluster calculator with code compliance | No | Yes |
| Fence project planner (multi-run, gates, shared corners) | No | Yes |
| Visual layout previews | No | Yes |
| IRC + IBC code compliance flags | No | Yes |
| Configurable fraction resolution (1/16”, 1/32”, 1/64”) | No | Yes |
| Rounding indicators (strong/shy of mark) | No | Yes |
| 9-slot memory with values visible on keys | No | Yes |
| Stringer cutting guide (step-by-step) | No | Yes |
| Floor joist calculator with diagrams | No | Yes |
| Live-updating guided calculators | No | Yes |
| Triangle solver (SSS/SAS/ASA/AAS/SSA) | No | Yes |
| 4 color themes + 6 button styles | No | Yes |
| Keep screen on during use | No | Yes |
| Native iOS share sheet | No | Yes |
14 Calculators Included
- Right-angle solver (rise, run, diagonal, pitch, grade)
- Rafter calculator (common rafter, bird’s mouth, cutting angles)
- Hip/valley rafter calculator (hip, valley, jack rafters, backing angles)
- Stair calculator (rise, run, code compliance, stringer cutting guide)
- Baluster calculator (spacing, code check, visual layout)
- Fence project planner (picket, panel, privacy, multi-run layouts, gates, shared corners, plan-view diagram)
- Floor joist calculator (span, spacing, count, actual OC)
- Triangle solver (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA with proportional diagram)
- Circle & arc calculator (radius, diameter, circumference, area, arc, chord, sector)
- Board feet calculator (species, dimensions, quantity, cost)
- Stud calculator (count, positions, board feet, sheet count)
- Compound miter calculator
- Rake wall calculator
- Roofing estimator (bundles, squares, sheets by pitch)
The Math
| Industry Standard | Construction Guru | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20-40/year | $19.99 one-time |
| Cost over 5 years | $100-200 | $19.99 |
| Cost over 10 years | $200-400 | $19.99 |
| Free trial | Auto-renews | 1 month, full access |
| Module add-ons | Extra cost | Everything included |
At $19.99, the app pays for itself on the first cut. That’s less than a single miscut board.
Built for Real Work
- Large touch targets — works with gloves
- High contrast display — readable in direct sunlight
- Offline-first — full functionality without internet
- Sub-400ms response — every calculation feels instant
- Keep screen on — no more losing your work mid-measure
Try Everything Free for a Month
No credit card tricks. No features locked behind a paywall. Use every calculator, every module, every feature for 30 days. If it saves you time, keep it for $19.99. If not, no hard feelings — the core calculator features are yours to keep, free forever.
