Sakrete Calculator

Category: Housing/Building

- May 14, 2025

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Estimate how much concrete, mortar, sand, or gravel you'll need for your project. Enter your dimensions below to calculate the required amount of material.

Project Type

Select Your Project:

Material Type:

Slab Dimensions

Length:

Width:

Thickness:

Standard thickness for most residential slabs is 4 inches

Footing Dimensions

Total Length:

Width:

Depth:

Post Hole Dimensions

Hole Diameter:

Typically 3x the width of the post

Hole Depth:

Typically 1/3 of the total post height

Number of Posts:

Wall Dimensions

Wall Length:

Wall Height:

Block/Brick Type:

Mortar Joint Thickness:

Standard mortar joint is 3/8 inch (0.375)

Paver Area Dimensions

Area Length:

Area Width:

Paver Type/Size:

Base Material Depth:

Typically 4-6 inches for walkways, 8-12 inches for driveways

Additional Options

Waste Factor:

Add extra material to account for spillage, settling, and irregular surfaces

Calculation Preference:

Calculate by Bags

Calculate by Cubic Measure

Material Information

Sakrete offers a variety of concrete, mortar, and sand products for different applications. Understanding which product to use and how much you'll need is essential for a successful project.

Common Sakrete Products

Concrete Mix: All-purpose blend of portland cement, sand, and gravel. Ideal for projects 2+ inches thick.
Fast-Setting Concrete: Sets in 30 minutes. Perfect for posts, poles, and mailboxes. No mixing required.
High Strength Concrete Mix: Achieves 5000 PSI, perfect for heavy load applications.
Mortar Mix: Used for laying brick, block, and stone. Various types available for different applications.
Sand Mix: Used for repairs and thin applications less than 2 inches thick.

Coverage Information

80 lb bag of Concrete Mix yields approximately 0.6 cubic feet
60 lb bag of Concrete Mix yields approximately 0.45 cubic feet
40 lb bag of Concrete Mix yields approximately 0.3 cubic feet
80 lb bag of Mortar Mix will lay approximately 40 standard bricks or 16 standard blocks
1 ton of sand or gravel covers approximately 100 sq. ft. at 2 inches deep

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on standard product yields and dimensions. Actual material needs may vary based on site conditions, compaction, and application techniques. We recommend purchasing slightly more material than calculated to ensure project completion.

Volume Formula (for Concrete or Gravel Estimation):
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
Units should be in feet (ft) or converted to feet before applying the formula.

What Is the Sakrete Calculator?

The Sakrete Calculator is an easy-to-use tool that helps homeowners, contractors, and DIYers estimate the quantity of concrete, mortar, sand, gravel, and related materials required for construction and landscaping projects. Whether you're planning a patio slab, fence posts, footings, a block wall, or a paver installation, this tool simplifies the process of material estimation to ensure your project runs smoothly.

How the Calculator Helps You

Planning for construction requires precision, and ordering too little or too much material can cause delays and waste money. The Sakrete Calculator provides reliable estimates by using common industry formulas, waste factors, and standard unit conversions.

Benefits include:

Accurate concrete volume estimator for slabs and footings
Efficient gravel volume estimator for paver base preparation
Material guidance for different concrete and mortar mixes
Helps calculate square footage for walls and paver areas
Optimized shopping list and material suggestions

How to Use the Calculator

Follow these steps to calculate your material needs:

Select the project type from the dropdown (e.g., Concrete Slab, Posts, Block Wall).
Choose the material type relevant to your task (e.g., Concrete Mix, Gravel, Sand).
Enter your project dimensions using the appropriate units.
Add a waste factor (default is 10%) to account for spillage and settling.
Select your calculation preference: by number of bags or by volume.
Click “Calculate Materials” to get an instant breakdown of what you'll need.

Included Project Types

The calculator includes specific estimation tools for:

Concrete Slab: Use this for patios, pads, and flooring. Ideal for slab material calculation and concrete pour planning.
Footings or Foundation: Supports structure bases. Useful for foundation material guide and concrete foundation estimate.
Posts: Perfect for fence or mailbox installations. Incorporates fast-set concrete options.
Block or Brick Wall: Calculates both mortar and block requirements. Acts as a concrete block estimator and brick quantity guide.
Pavers: Estimates sand and gravel needs for walkways or driveways, making it a great paver area estimator and gravel material planner.

Common Use Cases

The Sakrete Calculator is ideal for:

Concrete Project Planning: Determine how many bags of cement mix are needed for your slab or footings.
Square Footage Tool: Calculate square footage and measure floor area for walls or paver installations.
Gravel Coverage Guide: Plan how much gravel is required for a base layer beneath pavers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I switch between metric and imperial units?
Yes. Each input field includes a dropdown to choose between feet/meters or inches/centimeters.

Q: What if I have a custom paver size?
Select "Custom Size" under Paver Type, then enter your own dimensions.

Q: Does the tool consider material loss?
Yes. You can set a waste factor (%) to add extra material for spillage, settling, or uneven surfaces.

Q: Can I get both bag and volume estimates?
Absolutely. You can choose to view results by number of bags or in cubic measurements.

Why Accurate Estimation Matters

Incorrect estimates can delay your project or leave you with costly excess. This tool helps avoid last-minute trips to the store and ensures that you’re ready with the right amount of material. It acts as both a cement mix measurement assistant and a foundation material estimator, all while being intuitive and fast.

Final Notes

The Sakrete Calculator brings efficiency and clarity to your material planning process. It's not only a Concrete Calculator, but a helpful resource for pavers, footings, posts, and more. It bridges the gap between rough estimates and accurate results, helping users confidently calculate concrete needs, plan their foundation, and prepare for a successful build.