Calculator Dude is a free reference site for U.S. consumers. Many of the topics we cover, retirement, mortgages, taxes, health metrics, fall into what Google calls "Your Money or Your Life" content categories: information where a wrong answer can hurt someone. We take that seriously. This page documents the editorial standards we are applying to every published calculator.
Math validation is test-backed
Published calculators expose the implementation method and automated test count when coverage exists. New formula changes should include unit tests for normal inputs, boundaries, and invalid inputs before they are merged.
Primary-source standard
When a calculator depends on outside rules, thresholds, or data, citations should point to primary sources such as government publications, standards bodies, institutional publishers, or peer-reviewed research. Missing source review is tracked as a quality gap.
Updated when the underlying data changes
Published calculator pages carry a visible "Reviewed" date. We refresh the math and prose when tax law, contribution limits, standards, or reference guidance changes meaningfully. Outdated calculator pages are corrected, not just back-dated.
Named ownership
Published calculator pages list an author and should list a reviewer once review is complete. Missing reviewers remain visible in the editorial queue, especially for medical or financial topics covered by Google's Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) guidelines.
No paid placements, no affiliate links
Calculator Dude is funded by its founder. We do not accept payment to feature, rank, or recommend any product or institution. The calculators and their content are designed to be useful, not to drive revenue from referrals.
How we verify the math
Published calculator pages show the formula or implementation method, known limitations, and automated test count when a matching test suite exists. Those tests cover normal inputs, boundaries, and invalid inputs where the calculator logic supports them. Where a calculator mirrors an existing implementation, tests cross-check the web output against that reference output input-for-input.
We publish the test suites alongside the calculators. If you find an arithmetic mismatch with a reliable reference, please report it via the contact link below and we will treat it as a high-priority correction.
How to report a mistake
If you spot a factual error, an outdated reference, or a calculator output that does not match a reliable source, get in touch via the button below. Include the page URL, the specific claim or number in question, and the authoritative source you believe to be correct. We respond to verified corrections within seven business days and update the page with a revised "Reviewed" date.
Last reviewed: June 2026.