Wall Assembly R-Value Calculator (Layered)
The layers of a wall — drywall, insulation, sheathing, cladding, air gaps — are thermally in series, so the total assembly R-value is just the sum of each layer’s R-value, and the U-factor is its reciprocal. Enter each layer’s R-value to get the total resistance and U-factor in either Imperial (R) or SI (RSI) units.
Please enter a valid number
Total assembly R-value
18.80
h·ft²·°F/Btu
U-factor
0.053
Btu/h·ft²·°F
Material layers R:
Air films R:
Formula
R_total = ΣR_i (+ interior & exterior air films); U = 1 / R_total
- · Series resistance: because heat passes through each layer in turn, R-values add directly with no weighting.
- · U-factor = 1 ÷ total R-value; a higher R-value (lower U) means better insulation.
- · Ticking “air films” adds the standard surface resistances: Imperial interior 0.68, exterior 0.17 h·ft²·°F/Btu; SI interior 0.12, exterior 0.03 m²·K/W (source: ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals surface-resistance tables, exterior at 15 mph / 6.7 m·s⁻¹ winter wind).
- · Do not mix Imperial R and SI RSI: 1 (h·ft²·°F/Btu) ≈ 0.176 (m²·K/W) — convert before adding.
- · This is a clear-wall, one-dimensional estimate; it ignores thermal bridging through studs and fasteners, so the real whole-wall U-factor is usually a little worse.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between R-value and U-factor?
R-value measures thermal resistance — bigger is better at stopping heat flow. U-factor is the heat-transfer coefficient, the reciprocal of R-value (U = 1 ÷ R), so smaller is better. Materials are usually rated by R-value, while windows and energy codes are usually quoted as U-factors.
Why add air-film resistances?
A thin film of air clings to each face of the wall and provides real insulation, called surface resistance. To estimate the actual overall U-factor you should include the interior and exterior air films; leave them out when you only want the material total. This tool uses the standard ASHRAE values so you can do either.
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