Mortar Calculator
Calculate mortar, sand, and water needed for your masonry project.
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, medical, legal, or engineering advice. See Terms of Service.
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This calculator estimates 80 lb bags of mortar (Type S for brick and block, thinset for tile), along with sand and water requirements. Here is how to get an accurate estimate:
- Choose your input method. Select "By unit count" if you know how many bricks, blocks, or square feet of tile you need to cover. Select "By wall area" to enter wall dimensions and let the calculator figure out the unit count.
- Select your material type. Standard brick uses Type S mortar at roughly 7 bags per 1,000 bricks. CMU (concrete masonry unit) block uses about 3 bags per 100 blocks. Tile uses thinset mortar at about 1 bag (50 lb) per 50 square feet with a standard 1/4 inch notched trowel.
- Enter your quantity or dimensions. For the area method, enter the wall length and height in feet. Subtract any doors (roughly 20 sq ft each) or windows (roughly 15 sq ft each) that you do not need to mortar around.
- Read your results. The primary result is 80 lb bags needed. The breakdown shows the unit count, wall area, pounds of sand, and gallons of water to have on hand.
Results update instantly as you type. Use the Share button to send your inputs to a crew member or supplier, or Copy to paste the total into a materials list.
About the Mortar Calculator
Mortar is the binding agent that holds masonry units together. For standard brick construction using Type S mortar (the most common all-purpose mortar for above and below-grade work), the industry rule of thumb is 7 bags of 80 lb mix per 1,000 standard bricks. For 8x8x16 CMU blocks, expect about 3 bags per 100 blocks. Tile work uses thinset mortar, which typically covers around 50 square feet per 50 lb bag when applied with a 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch square-notch trowel.
Sand and water estimates are derived from standard mixing ratios. A bag of mortar typically requires about 200 lbs of sand (roughly 18 bags of mortar per ton of sand) and 5 to 6 quarts of water per 80 lb bag. These are estimates: job site conditions, mortar type variations, and mason technique all affect actual consumption. Add 10-15% extra when purchasing materials to account for waste and mixing losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
For 1,000 standard bricks using Type S 80 lb mortar, you need approximately 7 bags. This accounts for standard 3/8 inch mortar joints on all sides of the brick. If you are laying in extreme conditions or using non-standard joint widths, adjust upward by 1-2 bags. Always buy slightly more than the estimate to avoid running short mid-project.
What is the difference between mortar and thinset?
Traditional mortar (Type S, N, or M) is a mix of Portland cement, sand, and water used for brick, block, and stone work. Thinset is a modified mortar formulated specifically for tile installation, containing polymer additives that improve adhesion to smooth surfaces like concrete board and plywood. This calculator handles both: select Brick or CMU Block for Type S mortar, and Tile for thinset coverage.
How much sand do I need per bag of mortar?
Pre-mixed bagged mortar already contains the correct sand-to-cement ratio, so no additional sand is needed. However, if you are mixing mortar from scratch using Portland cement and masonry sand, the standard ratio is about 1 part cement to 3 parts sand by volume for Type S mortar. The calculator's sand estimate applies to scratch-mix projects and assumes approximately 200 lbs of sand per 80 lb bag equivalent of mortar produced.
How do I calculate mortar for a block wall?
For a standard 8x8x16 CMU block wall, there are approximately 1.125 blocks per square foot of wall area. A 20-foot long by 8-foot high wall (160 sq ft) would use about 180 blocks. At 3 bags per 100 blocks, that is roughly 6 bags of 80 lb Type S mortar. Use the "By wall area" option in this calculator to get the full estimate automatically, including deductions for any doors or windows in the wall.