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Editorial policy
How calculators on this site are built, sourced, reviewed, and kept up to date.
Who we are
The Handy Calculators is an independent reference site founded and edited by Larius — a software engineer, licensed North Carolina real estate broker and investor, commercial real estate and business appraiser, and former retailer based in Coconut Creek, Florida. We publish free, no-signup calculators for the everyday questions people Google: mortgage payments, paychecks, BMI, concrete yardage, exam grades, real-estate proformas, and more. We do not sell user data, and every calculation runs entirely in your browser.
How we build a calculator
- Pick the formula. We start from the standard textbook or regulatory formula for the topic — for example, the PMT amortization formula for loans, the Mifflin–St Jeor equation for BMR, the 2024 IRS federal brackets for paycheck tax estimates, or the published ACI guidance for concrete yardage.
- Cross-check against authoritative sources. We compare the output against at least one primary source (federal agency publication, industry trade group, peer-reviewed paper) and at least one well-known reference calculator to make sure the numbers match within reasonable rounding.
- Document the assumptions on the page. Every calculator that relies on a simplifying assumption (a flat state tax rate, a single filing status, a default waste factor, a stabilized vacancy floor) states that assumption in the on-page explanation so readers can decide whether the estimate fits their situation.
- Write a plain-English explanation. Each calculator ships with a "how it works", a worked numeric example, common mistakes to avoid, and an FAQ. We aim for the tone of a knowledgeable friend, not a textbook.
Review and update cadence
High-traffic calculators are reviewed at least twice a year and any time a primary input changes (for example, when the IRS publishes new tax brackets, when the Social Security wage base changes, or when a building code is updated). Each reviewed page shows a "Last reviewed" date at the bottom.
Smaller calculators are reviewed at least annually and whenever a reader reports an issue.
Corrections
If a result on this site looks wrong, please tell us. Email Larius@thehandycalculators.com or use the contact form and include the calculator name, the inputs you used, the result you saw, and the result you expected. We treat correction reports as priority work and aim to acknowledge them within two business days.
What we are not
We are not your accountant, lender, doctor, lawyer, contractor, or financial advisor. The calculators on this site are educational estimates. Always confirm material decisions (a mortgage you sign, a tax return you file, a health choice you make) with a qualified professional.
Advertising
The site is supported by display advertising. Ads do not influence which calculators we build, the formulas we use, or the order in which results are displayed. We never accept payment for favorable mentions, and we do not publish sponsored calculators.
Source code and data handling
All calculations execute in your browser; we do not send your inputs to a server. The only data that leaves your device is anonymous, aggregated analytics (subject to your privacy choices).
FAQ: Education vs. advice & licensing
A plain-language summary of what this site is, what it isn't, and where our editor is licensed.
Is anything on The Handy Calculators professional advice?
No. Every calculator, article, worked example, and editorial page on this site is general education. It is not legal, tax, accounting, appraisal, real estate, mortgage, medical, or financial advice, and it does not create a client, broker, agent, fiduciary, or professional relationship of any kind.
Does the real-estate content count as brokerage or appraisal services?
No. Cap-rate, cash-on-cash, 1031-exchange, closing-cost, mortgage, refinance, rental-yield, and proforma calculators — plus any related blog posts — are teaching tools that show how the math works on a hypothetical set of inputs. They are not a Broker Price Opinion (BPO), Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), USPAP-compliant appraisal, loan underwriting decision, or an offer to represent you in a transaction.
Where is the editor licensed?
Larius holds an active real estate broker license in the State of North Carolina only. He is not licensed as a real estate broker, agent, or salesperson in any other state — including Florida, where he currently resides. Real estate laws, disclosure requirements, license reciprocity, closing customs, and taxes vary by state, so a rule of thumb that is true in North Carolina may not be true where your property is located.
What should I do before acting on a result?
Confirm the numbers and the underlying rules with a professional who is licensed and qualified in the jurisdiction where you live or where the property, transaction, or decision sits — for example, a local real estate broker, closing attorney, CPA, state-licensed appraiser, or mortgage loan officer. Use our calculators to prepare good questions, not to replace those conversations.
Can I rely on the calculators for a filing, a closing, or a loan?
No. Outputs are estimates that depend on the assumptions stated on each page. Rates, brackets, fees, and formulas change. Always verify against the current official source (IRS publication, lender's Loan Estimate, county assessor, HUD-1/Closing Disclosure, state statute, etc.) before you sign, file, or fund anything.
Last updated: June 2026.