Compare materials quickly
Use the table to shortlist insulation, structure, and finishing materials by thermal conductivity before you build the assembly.
Materials Database
Building material thermal values
Searchable catalog of building materials with lambda values, categories, and practical notes.
Browse materials
Filter the catalog by category, name, or typical use, then use the chosen lambda value in the assembly calculator.
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Why this table matters
A practical reference for lambda values
Check realistic values
Lambda values vary by product type, density, and manufacturer. The catalog is a fast reference, not a substitute for technical data sheets.
Feed the calculator
Once you have a likely material, move back to the calculator and test the full wall, roof, or floor build-up with the chosen thickness.
Quick reference values before you search the catalog
Practical note
How to interpret the calculator result
Building material thermal values is intended for quick option checks and technical discussion before detailed execution. The result depends on the selected units, declared material values, and chosen surface resistances, so each change in layer or thickness should be treated as a separate variant.
The calculator does not automatically verify every local rule, thermal bridge, moisture condition, structural connection, or installation tolerance. If the result is close to a requirement, treat it as a reason for deeper verification rather than a final decision.
For better comparisons, test several realistic thicknesses, check current product data sheets, and review the complete assembly. A calculated value is most useful when the assumptions are clear: material, thickness, layer order, units, and data source.
For insulation or U-value tools, layer order and correct units are especially important. For concrete, electrical, plumbing, or heating tools, the result should be read as a quick quantity or plausibility check before standards and execution conditions are reviewed.
Save the result with the date, material name, and assumptions. If the product, diameter, cable section, or thickness changes later, do not compare the numbers alone without checking which inputs changed.
For calculator pages, clear separation between inputs and result is essential. If a value looks surprising, check units and default fields first, then review the project assumptions.
Category guide
Workflow for material properties
Use this page as a workflow hub for material properties when you need to move from a rough layer choice to a checked calculation. Start with the question, pick the calculator that matches the unit system, then verify material assumptions and limits.
When to use it
This works best while comparing material properties, when approximate layer thicknesses are known but the effect of insulation, surface resistances, and unit choices still needs to be visible.
How the tools relate
U-value calculators sum layer resistances, R-value calculators focus on insulation resistance, and thickness guides work backward from a target.
Example workflow
Choose the element, enter existing layers, compare two or three insulation options, then open the methodology or glossary if an assumption is unclear.
Key calculators and tables
Check formulas, definitions, and limits before using a result in a project discussion. This helps keep units, catalogue data, and local requirements separate.
Building material thermal values
Building material thermal values
Searchable catalog of building materials with lambda values, categories, and practical notes.
Assembly thickness
Assembly thickness
Searchable materials database for Lambda Calculator with lambda values, categories, and use-case notes.
U-value
U-value
Searchable materials database for Lambda Calculator with lambda values, categories, and use-case notes.
CategoryLambdaLayerMaterialThickness
Building material thermal values
Material-specific R-value pages
Compare insulation R-value ranges by material before opening the detailed calculator.
Related calculators and material references
Typical values are planning ranges. Check the declared product value, local code, and the complete assembly before construction.
Building material thermal values
Searchable catalog of building materials with lambda values, categories, and practical notes.
Searchable catalog of building materials with lambda values, categories, and practical notes.
Add layerRestore default setupRemove
Assembly nameThickness unitInternal Rsi (m2K/W)External Rse (m2K/W)
Calculation assumptions
The calculators use visible formulas and explicit unit conversions. Treat the result as a preliminary check, not a complete building design.
- SI and US units are converted separately; R, RSI, U-value, and U-factor are not mixed without the unit factor.
- Enter positive values and compare the result with the selected product datasheet.
- Local codes, thermal bridges, fasteners, and installation quality can change the requirement.
- Last formula review: 2026-04-27.
See how formulas, unit conversions, rounding, and limitations are handled. Methodology details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lambda is the thermal conductivity of a material, usually shown in W/mK. Lower lambda means heat moves through that material more slowly, but the final assembly still depends on thickness, surface resistances, and every other layer.
U-value describes heat loss through the whole building element, not just one material. A low U-value usually means a better insulated wall, roof, or floor, provided the real build-up matches the layers entered in the calculator.
Yes. Use the comparison section to keep thickness constant, then compare materials by lambda and calculated thermal resistance. This is useful when two products look similar on paper but behave differently at the same installed depth.
Yes. You can print the result or export it to CSV, Excel, or PDF for reports and documentation.
Yes. It is designed for layered assemblies such as external walls, flat roofs, pitched roofs, floors, and slabs. For unusual assemblies, add every relevant layer and treat the result as a planning check before formal verification.
Yes. It is intended for fast concept-stage calculations, insulation comparison, and envelope optimisation before detailed design. It is best used to narrow choices, not to replace a code check or project-specific thermal bridge assessment.
Yes. You can switch between millimeters, centimeters, and inches, and the calculator keeps the values consistent. For fewer mistakes, choose one unit system at the start of a project and review converted thicknesses before export.
Use Building material thermal values as a first-pass reference. Before specifying anything, compare the result with the manufacturer data, actual project dimensions, product data sheet, and local requirements.