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Cable Quantity Estimate Calculator

Work out cable quantity estimate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Cable Quantity Estimate Calculator

Cable quantity is outlet count times average run length plus a wastage allowance for service loops, mis-pulls and termination slack — 10 to 15 percent is typical. Because cable comes in fixed 305 m boxes, the order rounds up, and short runs left at the end of a box are usually unusable, which the surplus figure makes visible.

Formula

Cable quantity

total metres = outlets x average run x (1 + wastage); boxes = ceil(total / box length)

Worked example

With the default values below, Cable Quantity Estimate Calculator returns Cable boxes required of 38. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Outlets to installminimum 1
240
Average run lengthminimum 0.1 m
42 m
Wastage and slack allowanceaccepts 0–100 %
12 %
Cable per boxminimum 1 m
305 m

Results

Cable boxes required
38
Total cable required
11,290 m
Cable per outlet including wastage
47.0 m
Surplus from rounding up to full boxes
300 m

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Cable quantity
  3. 3Cable boxes required= 38
  4. 4Total cable required= 11,290 m
  5. 5Cable per outlet including wastage= 47.0 m
  6. 6Surplus from rounding up to full boxes= 300 m

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is average run length estimated?

Take the distance from the comms room to the nearest and furthest outlet, average them, and add allowance for vertical drops and cable-tray routing rather than straight lines.

Why leave a service loop?

So an outlet can be re-terminated after damage or moved a short distance. A couple of metres coiled above the ceiling saves a complete re-pull later.

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