Quick answer: Construction Pro is an option for iPhone and iPad users who need feet-inch-fraction arithmetic, local construction calculators and job records with PDF sharing. Core calculation runs on the device. Introductory access is limited and continued app use requires Pro. Check the full access and device facts before choosing.
Feet-inch math without a connection
For repeated cut-length calculations, use the feet-inch-fraction keypad to preserve the units you measured. Enter both dimensions, review the complete expression, and choose a fraction precision appropriate to the tape mark. For example, 12 ft 7 3/8 in plus 8 ft 11 3/4 in is 21 ft 7 1/8 in. Compute this known problem first so you can verify the entry sequence before using your own measurements.
Decimal feet and decimal inches are different: 10.5 ft is 10 ft 6 in, while 10.5 in is 10 1/2 in. The decimal conversion walkthrough shows the first case. If you only need a quick result in a browser, use the free feet and inches calculator; app installation and paid access are not necessary for that web tool.
Local calculation is useful away from Wi-Fi, but download the app and check your entitlement before heading out. Store purchases, maps and cloud synchronization still need their respective online services. Test the exact workflow you plan to use in airplane mode on your device.
Save a calculation with the project
Use the app’s saving workflow to keep an expression, result, units and notes with a job. Pro or applicable introductory access is needed for saving. Give the record a useful title such as “Garage slab — revision B”, retain the drawing reference and supplier assumptions in notes, then reopen it to confirm that the result and context survived. Saved calculation reports can be shared as PDFs.
For example, a 10 × 10 ft slab at 4 in depth has 1.234568 cubic yards before allowance. At 5% allowance it becomes 1.296296 cubic yards. A bag estimate also requires the specific product yield; at 0.60 cubic feet per bag this adjusted example needs 59 whole bags. Keep the chosen yield with the record so someone reading it later can reproduce the estimate. See the concrete calculator and formulas.
When using iCloud, distinguish metadata from files: saved-job metadata can sync, while attachment files stay on their source device. Open the actual record on the destination device and confirm the attachments you need are available before a handoff.
Prepare an estimate PDF with line items
Open Bid Builder & Estimate PDF, add the project and customer details, and enter quantities with their unit rates. For a reference check, 28 drywall sheets at $18.75 each gives a $525 line subtotal. Other line items, markup and tax determine the complete estimate; they are separate inputs rather than an assumption hidden in that subtotal.
Review the displayed totals, then use Share Estimate PDF. Open the resulting PDF and check the project name, line items, units, rounding and totals before sending it to anyone. The short walkthrough uses built-in sample data, not a real customer estimate. The estimate is a document you prepare; its existence does not certify a contract, quote or building design.
Use a dedicated tool for geometry
A common rafter with 12 ft horizontal run at 6:12 pitch has a 6 ft rise and a geometric length of 13.4164 ft, about 13 ft 5 in. Ridge thickness, overhang and connection details require additional treatment. For stairs, distinguish a target riser from a maximum allowed riser and check how the upper landing affects tread count. The rafter and stair guides show the arithmetic independently of the app screens.
Compare options using the same job
A dedicated handheld can be a better fit when you prefer physical keys or do not want to use a phone on site. A mobile app may fit when saved records, a larger screen or PDF export matters. Test both with the same dimensions, units and rounding. Our comparison checklist has five reference problems; it is published by this app’s developer and does not claim an independent winner.
Try the workflow before relying on it
- Check platform, access and current purchase terms on the App Store.
- Run one known example, keeping units and rounding visible.
- Save, reopen and export a sample record if those are requirements for your work.
- Test offline behavior and the actual hardware you will use.
- Confirm project specifications and local requirements before cutting or ordering.