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Calcimator

Root Cellar Sizing Calculator

Calculate root cellar dimensions and shelving needs based on harvest volume, family size, and produce types.

Inputs

bushels
months
%

Results

Required Floor Space

36 sq ft

≈ 54 sheets of paper

Storage Capacity

42 bushels

Shelving Needed18 linear ft
Temperature Zones3
Storage Volume43.8 cu ft
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter your estimated Harvest Volume (bushels) for all root vegetables, apples, and other storable produce.
  2. Set Storage Duration (months) for the longest-stored crops — potatoes and carrots may need 6–8 months of storage.
  3. Enter Family Size and Preserved Percent (the share of diet coming from stored produce) to calibrate space requirements.
  4. Select Produce Types to account for different temperature and humidity zones needed for optimal storage.
  5. Review Required Floor Space (sq ft) and Shelving Needed (linear ft) to plan root cellar construction dimensions.
  6. Check Temperature Zones and Storage Capacity (bushels) to verify the design will hold your full harvest.

What each input means

Harvest Volume
Total bushels of produce to store (1 bushel = ~50 lbs of root crops).
Storage Duration
How many months produce needs to last.
Family Size
Number of people drawing from root cellar stores.
Preserved/Canned
Percentage of harvest that will be canned, frozen, or dried instead.
Produce Types
Number of different produce types (affects temperature zone needs).

What each result means

Required Floor Space
Minimum floor area for your root cellar.
Shelving Needed
Linear feet of shelving required.
Temperature Zones
Number of distinct temperature areas needed.
Storage Capacity
Total bushel capacity with airflow space.
Storage Volume
Cubic feet of produce storage needed.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Harvest Volume = 50, Storage Duration = 6, Family Size = 4, Preserved/Canned = 30 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Required Floor Space
    Required Floor Space
    36 = 36
  3. Calculate Storage Capacity
    Storage Capacity
    42 = 42
  4. Calculate Shelving Needed
    Shelving Needed
    18 = 18
  5. Calculate Temperature Zones
    Temperature Zones
    3 = 3

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