Use the tables to sanity-check an order, then confirm the figure on the bag you actually buy. Our mortar calculator turns a wall size into bags using the most cautious of the published figures.
Pre-mixed mortar, bag by bag
Pre-mixed mortar has the cement, lime and sand already blended, so you only add water. These are the makers' own figures for standard bricks and 8x16 concrete blocks.
| Product | Bag | Standard bricks | 8 inch blocks | Waste included? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quikrete Mason Mix (Type S) | 80 lb | up to 37 | up to 13 | Not stated | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Mortar Mix (Type N) | 80 lb | up to 37 | up to 13 | Not stated | Quikrete data sheet |
| Sakrete Mortar Mix Type S | 80 lb | 35 | 12 | No | Sakrete data sheet |
| Sakrete Mortar Mix Type S | 60 lb | 26 | 9 | No | Sakrete data sheet |
| Sakrete Mortar Mix Type S | 40 lb | 18 | 6 | No | Sakrete data sheet |
| Spec Mix Mortar Cement & Sand | 80 lb | 39 to 41 (modular brick) | 11 to 13 | Yes, typical waste | Spec Mix data sheet |
"Up to" is the maker's own wording. Sakrete states that its yields do not allow for waste and spillage. Spec Mix states that its yields include typical waste. Quikrete's data sheets do not say either way.
Why the figures differ
- Waste. Some makers count waste in their yield and some do not, so the same amount of mortar can be rated differently on paper.
- Wording. A figure given as "up to" is a best case on a clean job, not an average.
- Unit size. Larger bricks and wider blocks take more mortar each, so fewer of them fit in a bag, as the next table shows.
- Bedding and joints. A full mortar bed uses more than face-shell bedding on hollow block, and thick joints use more than standard ones.
Yields by brick and block size
Only one maker in this guide publishes yields for several unit sizes. The range is wide: a bag lays far more modular bricks than utility bricks, and more narrow blocks than wide ones.
| Unit | Per 80 lb bag |
|---|---|
| 4 inch block | 15 to 17 |
| 6 inch block | 12 to 14 |
| 8 inch block | 11 to 13 |
| 10 inch block | 11 to 13 |
| 12 inch block | 10 to 12 |
| Modular brick | 39 to 41 |
| Queen size brick | 33 to 35 |
| King size brick | 26 to 28 |
| Utility brick | 23 to 25 |
Masonry cement mixed with sand
Masonry cement comes without sand, so you add sand on site. Its yield is quoted per batch of cement and sand, or as a rule of thumb per thousand bricks, and the numbers depend on your mix.
| Source | What is mixed | Published yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quikrete Masonry Cement (Type N) | One bag of masonry cement and 240 lb of mason's sand | About 2.75 cu ft of mortar, laying about 144 standard bricks or 46 standard blocks | Quikrete data sheet |
| Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association | One 70 lb bag of masonry cement, with sand | About 30 hollow units with face-shell bedding | CMHA TEK note |
| Brick Industry Association | Bags of masonry cement, with sand | About 8 bags per 1,000 modular bricks; a very rough rule of thumb that includes an unspecified amount of waste | BIA Technical Note |
These yields depend on how much sand goes into each batch, so follow the proportions printed on the bag.
How much extra to buy
The brick industry's estimating guidance is to add 15 to 25 percent to the net mortar quantity for waste. Check whether a yield already includes waste before you add an allowance, so you do not count it twice.
For a whole wall, start from its size. The brick calculator and the concrete block calculator count the units and the bags of mortar together.
Common questions
How many bricks does an 80 lb bag of mortar lay?
Sakrete and Quikrete publish 35 to 37 bricks for an 80 lb bag of pre-mixed mortar. Spec Mix publishes a higher figure for modular brick that already includes typical waste. The first table shows each one.
How many concrete blocks does a bag of mortar lay?
Sakrete and Quikrete publish 12 to 13 blocks for an 80 lb bag, and Spec Mix gives a similar range for 8 inch blocks. Wider blocks lay fewer per bag.
Do mortar bag yields include waste?
It depends on the maker. Sakrete's yields exclude waste and spillage, Spec Mix's include typical waste, and Quikrete's data sheets do not say. Read the note on the data sheet for the bag you buy.
Using these figures
You are welcome to cite the tables on this page. Please link to this page as the source, and check the maker's current data sheet before you rely on a single figure.