Mortar Bag Yield Calculator
How many bags of mortar are needed for a given brick or block count? Uses standard mortar-per-brick consumption.
Result
Mortar bags needed
112 bags
82.14 ft³ of mortar (incl. 15% waste).
- Mortar volume (no waste)71.43 ft³
- Per-bag yield0.74 ft³
- Total weight8,960 lb
Step-by-step
- Standard bricks use ~1 ft³ mortar per 7 bricks: 500 ÷ 7 = 71.43 ft³.
- Add 15% waste → 82.14 ft³.
- Divide by bag yield (0.74 ft³/bag) and round up: 112 bags.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the number of bricks or blocks you plan to lay.
- Pick the unit type — the per-unit mortar volume varies significantly.
- Pick a bag size and read the bag count.
About this calculator
Mortar consumption depends on the unit type. Standard bricks need about 1 cubic foot of mortar per 7 bricks; CMU (concrete masonry units) need more because the joints are bigger. Mortar is sold in 60 lb and 80 lb bags; a 80 lb Type S or Type N bag yields about 0.74 ft³ once mixed. A 15% waste factor is typical because of mortarboard losses.
Frequently asked
Mortar dries out quickly on a board and gets discarded between rounds. 15% is industry-standard. Beginners often see 20-25%.
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