Everyday rolling offset problems come down to one relationship between bend angle of fittings (θ), roll or horizontal offset (h), run (r), set or vertical offset (v) and tan. This calculator turns those numbers into true offset (c) and travel (t), with the working shown so you can check the result rather than simply trust it.
What Is the Rolling Offset Calculator?
The rolling offset calculator turns bend angle of fittings (θ), roll or horizontal offset (h), run (r), set or vertical offset (v) and tan into true offset (c) and travel (t), so you can order the right amount of material the first time.
Material estimates are where projects go over budget. Getting the quantities right before the delivery arrives is worth more than any discount on the order.
How to Measure for the Rolling Offset
Measure everything in the same unit and take the largest dimension you can reasonably use rather than the average. Formwork, ground conditions and cutting waste all push the real figure above the theoretical one.
Where a plan calls for a specific thickness, check it against local building regulations before you order. The calculator reflects the relationship, not the code.
Allowing for Waste and Errors
Order a little more than the calculation suggests. The gap between the theoretical quantity and what actually arrives on site is normally waste, spillage, over-excavation and uneven grading, and all of it comes out of the same budget.
Write the figures down and compare them with what you actually used on site. That is how you build an estimate you can trust for the next job.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with bend angle of fittings (θ) set to 10, roll or horizontal offset (h) set to 5, run (r) set to 2, the calculator returns true offset (c) of 100.12492, and travel (t) of 100.14. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out true offset (c)?
Enter bend angle of fittings (θ), roll or horizontal offset (h), run (r), set or vertical offset (v) and tan. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports true offset (c) and travel (t).
What does the rolling offset actually calculate?
It takes bend angle of fittings (θ), roll or horizontal offset (h), run (r), set or vertical offset (v) and tan and converts them into true offset (c) and travel (t) using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter bend angle of fittings (θ)?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.