Dry-pack planning estimate
Deck mud calculator
Estimate mud-bed volume from your planned area and thicknesses. Compare bag quantities and coverage by depth using your product's yield, then save a purchase PDF.
Start with your measurements
Size up your project
Example values are filled in. Replace them with your project measurements.
Uses the average of the two thicknesses as an approximation. A volume estimate does not design or approve a shower system.
Before you order
- Confirm the required product or mix with the system instructions.
- Check the label yield; bagged mix is an alternative to loose ingredients.
Quantities to confirm
Deck mud purchase sheet
The starting yield is an example for this bag size. Replace it with the product label; bag weight alone does not determine yield.
- 60 lb sand/topping bags5.363 cu ft with allowance ÷ 0.5 cu ft per bag; rounded up.
- 11bags
What this estimate assumes
- Installed volume: 4.875 cu ft, using average depth 1.625 in. This is a volume approximation, not an assembly design.
- Bagged mix uses finished volume plus 10% waste, with no extra loose-ingredient allowance. A bagged product is not assumed to have a 5:1 recipe.
- Bag yield entered: 0.5 cu ft/bag. Whole bags provide 0.138 cu ft above the volume with allowance.
Name your project & add notes Optional
Includes your quantities, assumptions and space to record the supplier, confirmed quantity, quote and delivery. No account required.
How to check this list before buyingDeck mud coverage chart
Compare the approximate area one bag can cover at each uniform depth.
A per-bag chart needs a packaged product yield. Select a bagged supply option above to see its coverage; site-mixed sand and cement are estimated separately.
60 lb sand/topping bags
Yield: 0.5 cu ft per bag · Waste allowance: 10%
| Uniform depth | Approx. area per bag sq ft |
|---|---|
| 0.75 in | 7.27 |
| 1 in | 5.45 |
| 1.25 in | 4.36 |
| 1.5 in | 3.64 |
| 2 in | 2.73 |
Area per bag = label yield ÷ (depth in feet × allowance multiplier). The stated waste allowance is included once; no loose-ingredient allowance is added. Depths are comparison examples, not recommended bed thicknesses.
How the deck mud estimate works
Area multiplied by the arithmetic average of the drain and edge thicknesses gives the estimated installed volume. This is an approximation for varying thickness, not an exact model of every shower-pan shape. Use dimensions from your actual design.
For bagged material, the calculator adds your waste allowance, divides by the product's finished yield, and rounds up to whole bags. The separate site-mix option uses a 5:1 sand/cement volume split and a 15% loose-ingredient allowance. Those assumptions are not applied again to bagged-product counts.
Assumptions and sources
- 60lb and 80lb bag equivalents use published QUIKRETE Sand/Topping Mix yields: 0.5 cu ft per 60lb bag and 0.66 cu ft per 80lb bag. These are approximate finished-volume yields for that named product, not a general conversion from bag weight.
- The bagged sand/topping material is a blend of sand and Portland cement, and QUIKRETE lists it for thick beds for ceramic floor tile.
- The site-mix ratio and loose-ingredient allowance are planning assumptions. Confirm the mix and assembly with your product supplier or tile professional.
Choose one supply approach. Site-mixed sand plus cement and the two bag sizes are alternatives; do not add all their quantities together. The purchase PDF keeps the selected option and its assumptions visible. Product sources checked September 8, 2026.
Related calculators
Use the tile calculator for tiles, thinset, and grout after the mud bed is planned. For rectangular concrete volumes, use the concrete calculator. Round footings or post holes require a shape-appropriate calculation.
Frequently asked questions
What mix ratio does this deck mud calculator use?
The site-mixed option retains a 5:1 sand-to-Portland-cement split by volume and a separate 15% loose-ingredient planning allowance. These are assumptions, not a mix specification. Bagged-product counts instead use installed volume plus your waste allowance divided by the stated product yield; the extra 15% is not applied to those counts.
Can I enter a sloped shower pan?
The calculator uses the arithmetic average of the drain and edge thicknesses as an approximate depth. That does not exactly model every drain position or sloped shape. Use thicknesses from your actual design and confirm the quantity for its geometry.
What yield do the bag estimates use?
The named QUIKRETE Sand/Topping Mix example uses approximate finished yields of 0.5 cubic feet for a 60 lb bag and 0.66 cubic feet for an 80 lb bag. Counts include your waste allowance and round up to whole bags. Confirm the actual product and its suitability before purchasing.
How does the deck mud coverage chart work?
The chart shows approximate square feet per bag at uniform depths from 0.75 to 2 inches. It uses the selected bag's actual yield divided by depth in feet and by one plus the waste percentage. At 0.5 cubic feet per bag and 10% waste, one bag covers about 5.45 square feet at 1 inch. No extra 15% loose-ingredient allowance is applied. Site-mixed mode hides the bag chart.