Quantity of Sand and Cement Calculator Square Feet

Mortar Mix Equations:

\[ \text{Cement (lb)} = \left[\text{Area (ft²)} \times \text{Thickness (ft)} \times 1.33 \times \left(\frac{1}{1 + \text{ratio}}\right)\right] \times 90 \] \[ \text{Sand (lb)} = \left[\text{Area (ft²)} \times \text{Thickness (ft)} \times 1.33 \times \left(\frac{\text{ratio}}{1 + \text{ratio}}\right)\right] \times 100 \]

Cement Required:

Sand Required:

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1. What is This Calculator?

This calculator determines the quantities of cement and sand needed for mortar mixing based on area coverage in square feet. It uses standard density values for cement (90 lb/ft³) and sand (100 lb/ft³).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these equations:

\[ \text{Cement} = \left[\text{Area} \times \text{Thickness} \times 1.33 \times \left(\frac{1}{1 + \text{ratio}}\right)\right] \times 90 \] \[ \text{Sand} = \left[\text{Area} \times \text{Thickness} \times 1.33 \times \left(\frac{\text{ratio}}{1 + \text{ratio}}\right)\right] \times 100 \]

Where:

1.33 — Factor accounting for mortar shrinkage/wastage
90 — Cement density (lb/ft³)
100 — Sand density (lb/ft³)
Ratio — Cement to sand proportion (e.g., 1:4 ratio = 4)

3. Importance of Accurate Calculations

Details: Proper mortar mix proportions are essential for structural integrity, workability, and durability of masonry work.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter area in square feet, thickness in feet, and mix ratio (cement:sand proportion). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are common mix ratios?
A: Common ratios are 1:3 (rich mix) to 1:6 (lean mix) for general masonry work.

Q2: Why the 1.33 factor?
A: This accounts for mortar shrinkage during setting and typical wastage during mixing and application.

Q3: How to convert to bags of cement?
A: Divide cement weight by 94 (standard 94lb bag) and round up to whole bags.

Q4: Does this work for concrete?
A: No, concrete requires additional calculations for aggregate quantities.

Q5: How accurate are these estimates?
A: Estimates are within ±5% for typical applications but may vary with material quality and work practices.