Self-leveling concrete calculator
Enter the floor size and the average depth you need to pour. You get the number of bags for the product you are using, compared across the common brands, from each manufacturer’s own coverage figures.
Inputs
Result
The same floor in other brands
Your area and depth, with the same allowance for waste. Coverage is each maker’s published figure, taking the low end where they give a range.
| Product | Bag | Sq ft per bag | Bags | Thickness range |
|---|
How to calculate self-leveling concrete
A 12 × 10 ft floor at an average of 1/4 in is 120 × 0.25 ÷ 12 = 2.5 ft³. With 10% extra that is 2.75 ft³. Quikrete’s Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer covers 21 sq ft at 1/4 in per 50 lb bag (about 0.44 ft³), so you need 7 bags.
The depth that matters is the average, not the deepest point. On a floor that dips 1/2 in in one corner and feathers to nothing elsewhere, the average may be under 1/4 in. Measure with a long straightedge or a laser in a grid, average the readings, and remember that most products also need a minimum thickness over the high spots.
How much does a 50 lb bag of self-leveler cover?
Most 40 to 55 lb bags make about 0.45 to 0.6 ft³, which is roughly 45 to 60 sq ft at 1/8 in, 20 to 30 sq ft at 1/4 in and 10 to 15 sq ft at 1/2 in. Double the depth and you halve the coverage. The figures for each product, worked out from its maker’s published coverage:
| Product | Bag | Yield, ft³ | Sq ft at 1/8 in | at 1/4 in | at 1/2 in | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quikrete Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer | 50 lb | 0.44 | 42 | 21 | 10 | feather edge to 5/8 in |
| Custom LevelQuik RS | 50 lb | 0.48 | 46 | 23 | 12 | 1/8 in to 1-1/2 in |
| Henry 555 LevelPro | 40 lb | 0.45 | 43 | 22 | 11 | 1/8 in minimum |
| Ardex K 15 | 55 lb | 0.62 | 60 | 30 | 15 | up to 1-1/2 in |
| Sakrete Self-Leveling Underlayment | 50 lb | 0.52 | 50 | 25 | 12 | 1/8 in to 1 in |
| CTS Rapid Set Concrete Leveler | 50 lb | 0.50 | 48 | 24 | 12 | 1/8 in to 2 in |
Sources: Quikrete data sheet No. 1249-50 (21 sq ft at 1/4 in per bag, stated yield 0.45 ft³, up to 5/8 in per pour); Custom Building Products LevelQuik RS (46–48 sq ft at 1/8 in, up to 1.5 in); Henry 555 LevelPro (43 sq ft at 1/8 in per 40 lb bag, 1/8 in minimum); Ardex K 15 (30 sq ft at 1/4 in per 55 lb bag, up to 1.5 in neat, per retailer listing); Sakrete Self-Leveling Underlayment (50–60 sq ft at 1/8 in per 50 lb pail, 1/8 to 1 in); CTS Rapid Set Concrete Leveler (24–30 sq ft at 1/4 in, 1/8 to 2 in). Products and coverage change; check the bag.
Before you pour
- Prime. Almost every self-leveler needs its maker’s primer on the subfloor first, or it can lose its bond and pinhole. Buy the primer that matches the product.
- Dam and seal. Block doorways and seal gaps at walls and around pipes; the mix is thin enough to run into the room below.
- Mix one bag at a time, exactly. Too much water weakens the surface and makes it dust. Use the water quantity on the bag and a drill paddle.
- Work fast. Most products flow for only 10 to 20 minutes. For anything bigger than a small room, have one person mixing while another pours.
- Thick areas. Above each product’s neat limit, add pea gravel where the maker allows it, or pour in layers with primer between.
Questions
How much self-leveling concrete do I need?
Multiply the floor area by the average depth in inches and divide by 12 to get cubic feet, add about 10%, and divide by the bag yield. For a 120 sq ft floor at an average of 1/4 in that is 2.75 cubic feet, or 7 bags of Quikrete Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer, which covers 21 sq ft at 1/4 in per bag.
How much does a 50 lb bag of self-leveler cover?
Roughly 45 to 60 sq ft at 1/8 in, 20 to 30 sq ft at 1/4 in and 10 to 15 sq ft at 1/2 in, depending on the brand. Quikrete's Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer covers 21 sq ft at 1/4 in; Custom LevelQuik RS covers 46 to 48 sq ft at 1/8 in.
How thick can self-leveling concrete be poured?
It depends on the product: from 5/8 in per pour for Quikrete's resurfacer to 1 in for Sakrete, 1.5 in for LevelQuik RS and Ardex K 15, and 2 in for Rapid Set Concrete Leveler. Several allow more when extended with pea gravel. Most also need at least 1/8 in over the highest point.
Can you pour self-leveler 2 inches thick?
Only with a product rated for it, such as Rapid Set Concrete Leveler (up to 2 in neat, 5 in with aggregate), or by extending a product with pea gravel where its maker allows. Otherwise pour in layers, priming between them.
Do I need primer for self-leveling concrete?
Almost always. Each maker specifies its own primer for the subfloor, and some require it between layers. Skipping it is the most common reason a self-leveler cracks, pinholes or comes loose.
How many bags of self-leveler for 100 square feet?
At 1/4 in average depth with 10% extra, about 6 bags of Quikrete Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer or 4 bags of Ardex K 15. At 1/8 in, roughly half that.
More Concrete calculators
Asphalt calculator
Tons of hot mix asphalt for a driveway, path or lot, at the industry's 110 lb per square yard per inch, with lifts, base and cost.
Rebar calculator
Rebar for a slab grid: bars each way, lap splices, 20 ft sticks, weight, ties and chairs, plus a rebar weight calculator.
Mortar calculator
Bags of mortar mix for a brick or block wall, from the wall area or the number of units, at Quikrete's published yields.
Concrete calculator
Cubic yards and 40, 60 or 80 lb bags for a slab, footing, post holes or steps, with waste and the ready-mix order.
Concrete block calculator
Blocks or bricks for a wall, with mortar bags, core grout and courses, net of doors and windows.