BuildCalc

Name: BuildCalc
Rating: 4.7 (69 reviews)
Author: 42nd Parallel

by 42nd Parallel

iPhone · iPad

Active Last checked 31 Jul 2026

App Store ↗

Quick verdict

What it is: Store information collected; independent summary not yet available.
At a glance: $24.99

Categories and search queries

Official categories

Utilities
Business

AppCorpus categories

Key functions

Function	Availability	Access	Scope	Evidence
Family Sharing	Yes	Unknown	App Store	Store published

Screens

No screenshots collected yet.

Pricing & paywalls

App Store

Price: $24.99

Last verified 31 Jul 2026

Ratings & reviews

App Store

4.7 69 ratings · App Store

5/5Outstanding product and outstanding support
I’ve been a subscriber to BuildCalc for many years, maybe as many as 15 but I honestly can’t remember. The software and app performs as it should but the advanced features is what sets this product apart. It’s difficult to put into words as there are too many to list. If I’m performing a calculation that I haven’t completed in a long time or if it’s a new calculation I’ve never attempted the app/software has a function that allows you to hold down any desired key and it will open a background to explain the function and its uses. When this doesn’t work I have reached out on a few occasions and I was always answered promptly with a solution to my problem. I recently found a bug (as all apps have) and the owner reached out for a meeting in which we shared screens and attempted to replicate the problem. This shows the amount of buy-in the company has in their product and customer service as well as their desire to continue to be THE platform for job site calculations.

t ray 8057 · 31 Jul 2026
5/5Amazing app
I rarely write reviews but after using this app for years and recommending it to someone today I felt the need to. I’ve been a professional carpenter for 34 years now and mainly build high end decks. As others have said, the stair function is amazing. What I’ve been most grateful throughout the years though is the baluster function. One of the best tools I’ve ever purchased to say the least. A sincere thank you to the developer from an aging and increasingly aching carpenter. You’ve made many a day easier and more profitable.

Sean B. 1970 · 31 Jul 2026
5/5Better than CM Pro!
Switched to iOS and can no longer use the other companies calculator without paying a subscription. I will not pay for greed, however I will pay for a great product. And this blows the other company out of the water. They kept the same great layout but added the most tasteful features. My favorite is long press for info on that function. Great! No more going through the menu to figure out how to do an irregular calculation! Buy it now! You won’t regret it. Developer, thank you.

LDWyatt · 31 Jul 2026
5/5A phenomenal app that gets better.
I make my living as a carpenter and use this app all the time. It offers truly useful features that take it way beyond your typical Construction Master. Irregular hip and valley rafter layout is made simple, and the ability to print stair sections from frame to finish (with all relevant values attached) is incredible. And the developers keep making it better with truly useful improvements. Don’t let the price put you off—it’s well worth it. Love love love this app!

csmithstack · 31 Jul 2026
5/5Construction Foreman
I work in the film and movie industry and have been using Build Calc for over 13 years. Some your favorite movies like Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vennom, Black Panther and many many more have benefited from the use of this app. I have made several recommendations to the developers for improvements and additions and they add them. Hands down, you want professional results, use the apps that the Pros use.

PL-459-8 · 31 Jul 2026

Privacy & accessibility

App Store

Privacy

Data Not Collected Developer declared

Accessibility

No accessibility labels collected yet.

Versions

App Store

2.11.12
Fixed: Email of drawings not working on more recent versions of iOS 13
2.11.14
Fixed: - Error in listed Stair Stringer Length (value shown on drawing is correct) when using Sub-Risers in design;
2.11.15
FIX : iPhone Home Bar overlaps [0] [.] and [=] keys, making it sometimes difficult to use those buttons or the Home Bar
2.11.16
Modified the button labels for the Advanced Function Recall and the Sizes Editor to be more intuitive
2.12.0
NEW: - Easier access to [Done] button in Advanced Views - Press and hold Main Page output value to copy to clipboard
2.15.0
NEW: - Rafter analysis and design portion of Diagonal function has been redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up. Now you can input Rise, Run and/or Diagonal values using realistic site measurements, instead of "Theoretical" values. BuildCalc takes these site dimensions and, with your specified design details, it calculates the rafter layout (including corresponding theoretical dimensions) and generates a complete Rafter Layout Drawing Fixed: - iOS Swipe bar overlaps BuildCalc's Toolbar at page bottom - making some operations very difficult to access. - Entering HBP (Height Below Plate) incorrectly calculates HAP and breaks Common Rafter layout drawing.
2.15.1
This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included. NEW: - Rafter analysis and design portion of Diagonal function has been redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up. Now you can input Rise, Run and/or Diagonal values using realistic site measurements, instead of "Theoretical" values. BuildCalc takes these site dimensions and, with your specified design details, it calculates the rafter layout (including corresponding theoretical dimensions) and generates a complete Rafter Layout Drawing Fixed: - Crash when entering advanced functions after a fresh install - iOS Swipe bar overlaps BuildCalc's Toolbar at page bottom - making some operations very difficult to access. - Entering HBP (Height Below Plate) incorrectly calculates HAP and breaks Common Rafter layout drawing.
2.15.2
FIX: App crashes when trying to recall saved analyses
2.15.3
FIX: Plumb and Level angles missing from Common Rafter results
2.15.4 · 1 May 2026
FIXED: - Factory reset not working - Common Rafter inputs changing when changing "measured-to" and "birds-mouth" values
2.3.5
○ Added Rafter Cord Length and Roofing Length to [Diag] function results and drawing; ○ Fixed broken links to "Hip and Valley Angles" articles in [Hip/V] help;
2.3.6
Fixed: ◦ [Diag] function fails to allow entry of dimensional lumber values (ex: "2x10", "4x12") for "Rafter WxH" and "Ridge Beam WxH"; ◦ [Diag] function returns wrong value for "Ridge Post Height"; Added: ◦ Ridge Post Height to Rafter Layout drawing;
2.3.7
Fixed: * failure to use [Slope] values to calculate [Rise], [Run], or [Diag] results; * failure to calculate advanced function Rise or Run when last two changes are Pitch and Diagonal
2.3.8
Fixed: able to do (a÷b= +===) repetitive operations.
2.4.0
New: Keypad memory buttons and labels will be red when a stored value is available. Fixed: Selecting on second advanced function cell while a first cell is selected causes the first cell to be not selectable
2.4.1
Fixed: ① poor contrast for buttons that indicate a value is saved in memory ② some saved values are lost upon app restart ③ Welcome screen displayed at each launch
2.4.10
Fixed: - When device is set to Dark Mode, advanced calculation pages are too dark for outdoor use; - App crashes when Thousands separators are enabled;
2.4.11
Fixed: - Popup keypad not appearing on iOS 11 iPads
2.4.2
New: - Four levels of volume control: mute, soft, medium, and high; Fixed: - Cumulative memory, [M+], fails to allow entry of unitized values; - [M+] button appearance now indicates if value(s) are in cumulative memory;
2.4.3
① BuildCalc no longer stops background music (from other apps) from playing ② Volume button will be orange and show mute symbol when device is muted (thereby overriding BuildCalc's key click volume setting) ③ Volume button is scaled correctly for iPad portrait and landscape orientations
2.4.5
New: - volume control works if the device is muted or not; - volume control has an additional level (was 4, now 5 levels) Fixed: - volume control does not work on advanced functions - static background noise can be heard on some devices in some conditions
2.4.6
Fixed: - Certain sequences of [Length] [Width] [Rise] [Run] button presses that cause the Roofing function to produce incorrect results. - Layout for iPhone X New: - Can export contents of tape
2.4.7
Fixed: - iPad version crashes at launch. - Certain sequences of [Length] [Width] [Rise] [Run] button presses that cause the Roofing function to produce incorrect results. - Layout for iPhone X
2.4.8
Fixed: - Last riser/tread intersection dimension of Stringer Layout not shown when Flush Landing is ON; - First riser/tread intersection dimension is left justified which can cause it to be off the drawing page; - Trying to email advanced function results causes crash;
2.4.9
Updated for iOS 13.5 compatibility.

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Alternatives

Span Calc — Same category + similar ratings
Construction Master 5 Calc — Same category + similar ratings

Availability by market

Data quality & evidence

Page completeness: Live store listing
Last verified: 31 Jul 2026
Sources: App Store

Independent summary has not been published yet.
Screenshots: not yet collected

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Compare BuildCalc with Span Calc.

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GET /api/v3/apps/333369423

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          "rating": 5,
          "title": "Outstanding product and outstanding support",
          "body": "I’ve been a subscriber to BuildCalc for many years, maybe as many as 15 but I honestly can’t remember. The software and app performs as it should but the advanced features is what sets this product apart. It’s difficult to put into words as there are too many to list. If I’m performing a calculation that I haven’t completed in a long time or if it’s a new calculation I’ve never attempted the app/software has a function that allows you to hold down any desired key and it will open a background to explain the function and its uses. When this doesn’t work I have reached out on a few occasions and I was always answered promptly with a solution to my problem. I recently found a bug (as all apps have) and the owner reached out for a meeting in which we shared screens and attempted to replicate the problem. This shows the amount of buy-in the company has in their product and customer service as well as their desire to continue to be THE platform for job site calculations.",
          "author": "t ray 8057",
          "date": "31 Jul 2026"
        },
        {
          "rating": 5,
          "title": "Amazing app",
          "body": "I rarely write reviews but after using this app for years and recommending it to someone today I felt the need to. I’ve been a professional carpenter for 34 years now and mainly build high end decks. As others have said, the stair function is amazing. What I’ve been most grateful throughout the years though is the baluster function. One of the best tools I’ve ever purchased to say the least. A sincere thank you to the developer from an aging and increasingly aching carpenter. You’ve made many a day easier and more profitable.",
          "author": "Sean B. 1970",
          "date": "31 Jul 2026"
        },
        {
          "rating": 5,
          "title": "Better than CM Pro!",
          "body": "Switched to iOS and can no longer use the other companies calculator without paying a subscription. I will not pay for greed, however I will pay for a great product. And this blows the other company out of the water. They kept the same great layout but added the most tasteful features. My favorite is long press for info on that function. Great! No more going through the menu to figure out how to do an irregular calculation! Buy it now! You won’t regret it. Developer, thank you.",
          "author": "LDWyatt",
          "date": "31 Jul 2026"
        },
        {
          "rating": 5,
          "title": "A phenomenal app that gets better.",
          "body": "I make my living as a carpenter and use this app all the time. It offers truly useful features that take it way beyond your typical Construction Master. Irregular hip and valley rafter layout is made simple, and the ability to print stair sections from frame to finish (with all relevant values attached) is incredible. And the developers keep making it better with truly useful improvements. Don’t let the price put you off—it’s well worth it. Love love love this app!",
          "author": "csmithstack",
          "date": "31 Jul 2026"
        },
        {
          "rating": 5,
          "title": "Construction Foreman",
          "body": "I work in the film and movie industry and have been using Build Calc for over 13 years. Some your favorite movies like Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vennom, Black Panther and many many more have benefited from the use of this app. I have made several recommendations to the developers for improvements and additions and they add them. Hands down, you want professional results, use the apps that the Pros use.",
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      "notes": "Fixed: - Error in listed Stair Stringer Length (value shown on drawing is correct) when using Sub-Risers in design;"
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    },
    {
      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.15.1",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included. NEW: - Rafter analysis and design portion of Diagonal function has been redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up. Now you can input Rise, Run and/or Diagonal values using realistic site measurements, instead of \"Theoretical\" values. BuildCalc takes these site dimensions and, with your specified design details, it calculates the rafter layout (including corresponding theoretical dimensions) and generates a complete Rafter Layout Drawing Fixed: - Crash when entering advanced functions after a fresh install - iOS Swipe bar overlaps BuildCalc's Toolbar at page bottom - making some operations very difficult to access. - Entering HBP (Height Below Plate) incorrectly calculates HAP and breaks Common Rafter layout drawing."
    },
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      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "FIX: App crashes when trying to recall saved analyses"
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      "version": "2.15.3",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "FIX: Plumb and Level angles missing from Common Rafter results"
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      "version": "2.15.4",
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      "notes": "FIXED: - Factory reset not working - Common Rafter inputs changing when changing \"measured-to\" and \"birds-mouth\" values"
    },
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      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.3.5",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "○ Added Rafter Cord Length and Roofing Length to [Diag] function results and drawing; ○ Fixed broken links to \"Hip and Valley Angles\" articles in [Hip/V] help;"
    },
    {
      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.3.6",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: ◦ [Diag] function fails to allow entry of dimensional lumber values (ex: \"2x10\", \"4x12\") for \"Rafter WxH\" and \"Ridge Beam WxH\"; ◦ [Diag] function returns wrong value for \"Ridge Post Height\"; Added: ◦ Ridge Post Height to Rafter Layout drawing;"
    },
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      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.3.7",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: * failure to use [Slope] values to calculate [Rise], [Run], or [Diag] results; * failure to calculate advanced function Rise or Run when last two changes are Pitch and Diagonal"
    },
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      "version": "2.3.8",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: able to do (a÷b= +===) repetitive operations."
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      "version": "2.4.0",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "New: Keypad memory buttons and labels will be red when a stored value is available. Fixed: Selecting on second advanced function cell while a first cell is selected causes the first cell to be not selectable"
    },
    {
      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.4.1",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: ① poor contrast for buttons that indicate a value is saved in memory ② some saved values are lost upon app restart ③ Welcome screen displayed at each launch"
    },
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      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.4.10",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: - When device is set to Dark Mode, advanced calculation pages are too dark for outdoor use; - App crashes when Thousands separators are enabled;"
    },
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      "version": "2.4.11",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "Fixed: - Popup keypad not appearing on iOS 11 iPads"
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      "store": "apple",
      "version": "2.4.3",
      "released_at": null,
      "notes": "① BuildCalc no longer stops background music (from other apps) from playing ② Volume button will be orange and show mute symbol when device is muted (thereby overriding BuildCalc's key click volume setting) ③ Volume button is scaled correctly for iPad portrait and landscape orientations"
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  "alternatives": [
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      "app_id": 380481343,
      "name": "Span Calc",
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      "reason": "Same category + similar ratings"
    },
    {
      "app_id": 370412148,
      "name": "Construction Master 5 Calc",
      "url": "https://appcorpus.com/apps/construction-master-5-calc-370412148",
      "reason": "Same category + similar ratings"
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