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Cinder Block Calculator: How Many Cinder Blocks Do I Need?
Because eyeballing it only works half the time
Photo: Douglas Cliff / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Photo: Douglas Cliff / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Highlights
Cinder blocks are often used to build foundations, storm shelters, and walls.
To estimate the number of cinder blocks, you need to know the square footage.
A local pro can help you estimate the correct number of cinder blocks you’ll need.
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How many cinder blocks do I need? Whether you’re tackling foundation repair, building a cinder block wall, assembling a storm shelter, or undergoing another cinder block project, you can estimate the amount of materials you need with this cinder block calculator.
How Many Cinder Blocks Are Needed for a Cinder Block Project
Refer to the table below to estimate how many cinder blocks and bags of mortar you’ll need based on the square footage of your project. This is a good starting point, but it will ultimately depend on how large the cinder blocks are.
| Square Feet | Number of Cinder Blocks | Number of Bags of Mortar |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 45 | 2 |
| 100 | 113 | 4 |
| 150 | 169 | 6 |
| 200 | 225 | 8 |
| 250 | 281 | 10 |
How to Calculate the Number of Cinder Blocks You Need
Photo: David Johnson / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
The first step to estimating how many cinder blocks you need for your project is to determine the area of the project in square feet. To do that, use the following formula:
Area = Length x Width
Next, calculate the square footage of the blocks you’re using by multiplying the length by the width of the blocks and then dividing by the number of square inches in a foot (144).
Block area (in square feet) = (Length x Width) / 144
A standard-size cinder block is 16 inches long and 8 inches high, which is 0.89 square feet.
Finally, divide the square footage of the total project by the square footage of the cinder block to get the number of cinder blocks you need to complete the project and ultimately estimate the cinder block wall cost.
Number of Cinder Blocks = Project Square Footage / Cinder Block Square Footage
How to Measure
When calculating how many cinder blocks you need, you're usually measuring a rectangular or square area, like for a wall, raised bed, or patio. In these cases, you find the total square footage of the space and divide it by the area of one block (in square feet) using a tape measure.
If you're using blocks for edging or borders, you’ll measure in linear feet instead. Some projects may have irregular shapes, but you can break those into smaller rectangles or triangles to simplify the math. Always add 5 to 10% extra to account for cuts or mistakes.
If you need help with your cinder block wall, foundation, or storm shelter, you can hire a local block wall professional who will be able to calculate how many cinder blocks you’ll need as well as the amount of mortar and then install the project. If you’re working on repairing your foundation, you can contact a foundation repair specialist near you to take a look and give you a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mortar is the cement that’s used to set cinder blocks together. Each bag of mortar will bond between 30 and 35 cinder blocks, so divide the total number of cinder blocks by 30 to get an estimate of how many bags you’ll need. As an example, three bags of mortar can bond about 100 cinder blocks.
A pallet holds about 80 cinder blocks and costs between $115 and $225. The actual number will depend on the company, so be sure you know how many will be on the pallet when you make your calculations. There may be delivery fees between $50 and $200 to get the pallet dropped off at your house.
The actual foundation repair costs will depend on the extent of the damage, how many blocks you need, labor costs, and material costs. As an estimate, the average repair costs for a cinder block foundation fall between $350 and $25,000. Because the range is so large, it’s important to call a professional foundation repair company and have them assess the damage and estimate the repair costs.
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