Masonry calculator

CMU grout fill

Grout volume and 80 lb bag equivalent to fill CMU cores from wall face, block module and grout per block.

Reviewed formula · v1.0.0

Project inputs

Enter field measurements. Imperial lengths take feet and inches. Unit conversion happens before the reviewed formula is applied.

Wall lengthft + inFinished wall length being groutedftinWall heightft + inFinished wall heightftinBlock lengthinNominal face length, commonly 16 inBlock heightinNominal face height, commonly 8 inGrout per blockft³ / blockCore volume of one fully grouted unit. 8 in CMU is often about 0.25 ft³; confirm the blockWaste factor%Allowance for over-pour and cleanup

All values can be refined when you edit the estimate. This tool does not replace field verification or local requirements.

Calculated result

1.75yd³

Grout order

FormulaMAS-FIL-001

ceil(L ÷ block length) × ceil(H ÷ block height) × grout per block × (1 + waste)

180 blocks

Blocks in the wall

45 ft³

Net grout volume

Bag table · waste in

Counts round up. A cubic yard is 45 of 80 lb, 60 of 60 lb, 72 of 50 lb, 90 of 40 lb.

Bag	Count
80 lb	79

Transparent cost view

Planning rates only. Pick a currency — badges, inputs, and totals follow. Material is a rate. Labour is hours × a planning hourly rate. Equipment and delivery are this-job amounts.

Material ratePlanning · per calculated unit · USDEquipmentPlanning · this job · USDDeliveryPlanning · this job · USDLabour hoursPlanning · this jobLabour ratePlanning · per hour · USDOverhead %%Contingency %%Markup %%Tax %%

Planning defaults are office figures, not a bid. US ready-mix in 2026 often lands around $125–165 per cubic yard delivered; place-and-finish commonly $2–4 per square foot. Replace every rate with a supplier or crew quote before you send the letter.

Indicative FX as of Aug 2026. Planning conversion, not a live bank rate.

Material costUSD 149

Labour (8 h)USD 280

Direct costUSD 539

Overhead + contingencyUSD 53.88

Markup + taxUSD 71.12

Estimated project totalUSD 664

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<iframe src="https://construclytic.com/embed/block-fill" title="CMU grout fill" width="100%" height="820" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" style="border:1px solid #d7e0da;border-radius:16px;background:#fff;"></iframe>

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How this calculator works

A transparent cmu grout fill takeoff.

Count CMU units from wall face and the block module, multiply by the grout volume of one fully grouted block, then round ready-mix to the next 0.25 yd³ and show an 80 lb bag equivalent.

Worked example. Example: a 20 × 8 ft wall of 16×8 in block is 180 units. At 0.25 ft³ of grout each, 5% waste rounds the grout order to 1.75 yd³.

1. Measure the wall that will actually be grouted, not the whole building.
2. Enter grout per block from the unit you are laying. 8 in and 12 in cores are not the same.
3. Bond beams, lintels and partial-height grout are extra. This tool is a full-height core fill.

Need the broader workflow? Read the masonry planning guide.

Questions

Questions about cmu grout fill

Is 0.25 ft³ right for every 8 in block?

It is a common fully grouted two-core planning figure, not a catalog value. Read the block data sheet when the pour is large.

Every other core?

If you grout cells at 16 or 32 in on center, lower grout per block to match the cells you will fill, or run the wall in sections.

What is the formula ID?

This calculator publishes formula MAS-FIL-001, version 1.0.0. The ID stays on the result and on the estimate line.

Is this engineering advice?

No. Construclytic is a planning website, not a registered engineering or contracting firm. Field checks, codes and product data still sit with you.

Does Construclytic fetch live supplier prices?

No. Costs use the rate you enter. Construclytic does not fetch live supplier prices.