Mortar Bag Yield Calculator

How many bags of mortar are needed for a given brick or block count? Uses standard mortar-per-brick consumption.

Inputs

Result

Loading calculator…

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

Why is the waste factor higher than for concrete?+
Mortar dries out quickly on a board and gets discarded between rounds. 15% is industry-standard. Beginners often see 20-25%.
What is the difference between Type N, S, and M mortar?+
Mortar types describe compressive strength. Type N is for general above-grade work. Type S is for foundations and below-grade. Type M is for heavy structural work. Yield per bag is similar across types.
How much mortar per CMU block?+
About 0.011 ft³ per 8" block (standard 3/8" joint). 100 blocks need roughly 1.125 ft³ of mortar.
Can I use this for stone veneer?+
It is a starting point, but stone has irregular faces — count on 25-30% more mortar than the calculator predicts for natural stone.
Should I keep mixed mortar overnight?+
No — mortar starts to set within ~2 hours and is unusable after ~3.5 hours. Mix only what you can place in that window.

Related calculators

More tools you might like

Hand-picked tools that pair well with this one — same audience, same intent.