What mix ratio does this deck mud calculator use?

It uses a 5:1 sand-to-Portland-cement ratio by volume, then adds a configurable waste factor and a 15% loose-to-packed allowance. Treat the result as a planning estimate and follow your product label or tile professional's instructions.

Can I enter a sloped shower pan?

Yes. Enter the thickness near the drain and the thickness at the edge or perimeter. The calculator averages those two points to estimate the total dry-pack volume.

What does the 60lb bag coverage chart assume?

It uses a 0.5 cubic foot yield per 60lb sand/topping bag, then reduces coverage for 10% waste and the 15% loose-to-packed estimate.

Dry-pack planning estimate

Deck mud calculator

Estimate dry-pack volume for a shower pan or tile mud bed, including average slope thickness, 5:1 sand-to-cement split, 60lb and 80lb bag equivalents, and a deck mud coverage chart.

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Tile layout with spacers, trowel, and measuring tools

Mud bed area (sq ft)

Drain thickness (in)

Edge thickness (in)

Waste factor (%)

Slope support

Enter the drain and perimeter/edge thicknesses. The calculator uses their average, 1.625 in, as the working bed thickness. For flat patches, enter the same number twice.

Material totals

Installed mud volume 4.88 cu ft

Dry-pack volume estimate 6.17 cu ft

Sand at 5:1 by volume 5.14 cu ft

Portland cement at 5:1 by volume 1.03 cu ft

60lb dry-pack bag equivalent 13 bags

80lb dry-pack bag equivalent 10 bags

Estimate uses 5:1 sand-to-cement by volume, 10% waste, 15% loose-to-packed allowance, and published bag yields of 0.5 cu ft for 60lb and 0.66 cu ft for 80lb sand/topping mix. Those yields are the dry-pack density estimate for bag-count planning. Confirm the exact bag yield and mix instructions on your product label.

Printable Shopping List

Area / thickness 36 sq ft / 1.625 in avg

Dry-pack volume estimate 6.17 cu ft

Sand volume 5.14 cu ft

Portland cement volume 1.03 cu ft

60lb bag equivalent 13 bags

80lb bag equivalent 10 bags

Generated by BuildTotals.com | buildtotals.com/tools/deck-mud-calculator

Estimate only. Bagged mixes, sand moisture, packing effort, and jobsite waste vary.

Deck mud coverage chart

Approximate square feet covered by one 60lb bag, including 10% waste and the 15% loose-to-packed estimate.

Average thickness	Coverage per 60lb bag	Best use
0.75 in	6.3 sq ft	Thin topping estimate
1.00 in	4.7 sq ft	Thin topping estimate
1.25 in	3.8 sq ft	Common planning point
1.50 in	3.2 sq ft	Thicker or sloped bed
2.00 in	2.4 sq ft	Thicker or sloped bed

How the deck mud estimate works

The calculator first converts area and average thickness into installed cubic feet. For a sloped shower pan, enter the drain thickness and the edge thickness; their average is used as the working depth. It then adds waste and a loose-to-packed allowance so the shopping list is more conservative than the theoretical bed volume.

The 5:1 split is by volume: five parts clean sand to one part Portland cement. This is a common dry-pack deck mud recipe, but actual methods vary by tile system, substrate, waterproofing method, and installer.

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. That product-specific yield is the dry-pack density estimate used for bag counts.
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 5:1 deck mud mix ratio is based on common tile-trade guidance such as The Floor Elf's deck mud recipe.

The 15% compaction factor is intentionally marked as an estimate. Sand gradation, moisture, packing force, drain geometry, and how much material is lost while mixing can change the final quantity.

Related calculators

Use the tile calculator for tiles, thinset, and grout after the mud bed is planned. For slabs, footings, or post holes, use the concrete calculator instead.