🌱 Hoop House Calculator
Plan a hoop house (Quonset-style greenhouse) by estimating floor area, plastic covering size, and interior volume.
What this calculator does
The hoop house calculator helps you plan a Quonset-style hoop greenhouse by estimating floor area, the width of plastic film needed to cover the arched roof and sidewalls, and the approximate interior air volume.
The formula
Floor area is simply width times length. The covering width is estimated by treating the roof arch as a half-ellipse-like curve rising from the sidewall height to the peak height, adding the sidewall height on each side plus a small overlap allowance for securing the plastic at the base. Interior volume approximates the cross-section as a half-ellipse arch above rectangular sidewalls, multiplied by the length.
- Actual plastic roll widths are sold in fixed increments (commonly 12, 20, 24, or 32 feet), so round up to the nearest available roll size.
- Add extra length for end-wall wrapping and securing trenches when ordering covering material.
This tool provides general planning estimates only; verify final dimensions against your specific hoop bender or kit specifications before purchasing materials.