Cement and sand mix calculator (rait cement ka hisaab)
Bags of cement, rehri of sand and, for PCC, crush for today's work, mixed bag by bag so nothing is left at closing time.
Daily cement and sand mix (aaj ka masala)
Tell it what work is planned today and how much, and it tells the mistri how many bags to open and how many rehri of sand (and crush for PCC) go with each bag, so the last batch is not left over at closing time. Measure your own rehri and tasla once and enter their size.
Common questions
What does 1 : 4 mean?
One part cement to four parts sand by volume. A 50 kg bag is about 1.25 cu ft, so 1 : 4 means 5 cu ft of sand per bag — roughly 1.7 rehri of 3 cu ft, or 10 tasla of 0.5 cu ft. It does not mean one bag and four rehri: that would be 1 : 10.
Why is PCC worked out differently?
PCC (plain cement concrete under floors) is concrete: cement, sand and crush, for example 1 : 3 : 6. It needs about 1.54 cu ft of dry material per cu ft laid and far less cement than a cement–sand screed of the same thickness, so it is calculated with the concrete formula.
How do I measure my rehri?
Fill it level with sand, then empty it into a box or bucket of known size, or measure inside: length × width × depth in inches ÷ 1728 = cu ft. Most site wheelbarrows hold 2.5–3.5 cu ft level.
Why must leftover mortar be thrown away?
Cement starts setting about 45 minutes after water is added. Mortar kept overnight and re-mixed with water the next morning has no strength — the plaster or wall it goes into will crack and sound hollow. Mix bag by bag and stop mixing when the wall or floor is nearly done.
Which ratio for which work?
Common practice: inside plaster 1 : 4 at 1/2 in; outside plaster 1 : 3 or 1 : 4 at 3/4 in; 9 in brickwork 1 : 4 to 1 : 6; 4.5 in walls 1 : 4; tile bedding 1 : 4. Follow your drawing or engineer where they say otherwise.
More free tools
- House builderDraw your rooms on your plot, drag things into place, then tap anything to see the tiles, paint, cement and wire it needs.
- Society legal statusSearch any housing society in Islamabad or Rawalpindi and see whether it is approved, NOC in process, or illegal, with the approved area.
- Plot price checkPick the society, phase, block and plot size to see the dated price references we have, with their source — or a clear note when there are none.
- Cost by plot sizeQuantities for a house on your plot, an illustrative range at sample rates, or a total at your own rates.
- TilesFloor or wall tiles and boxes, with waste, bedding or adhesive, at your prices.
- PaintLitres and packs for the walls and ceilings you choose, with primer and putty.
- Bricks & blocksBricks or blocks from their real size and joint, with mortar or adhesive.
- Concrete & steelConcrete for a slab, beam, column or footing, and steel from the bars on your drawing.
- WiringMetres and coils per cable for the routes your electrician has planned.
- Cost estimateA line-by-line budget at the rates you are quoted, with unpriced lines listed.
- ChecklistFourteen stages: what to buy, what to check with the mistri, and what to photograph before it is covered.
Want a builder to check the numbers?
Blackfire Real Estate & Builders builds on labour or contract rate in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and does one-off site checks for people building themselves.
0371-7581455All quantities on this site are estimates for planning and buying. Site conditions, workmanship and brands change the real figures. Structural sizes and reinforcement must come from your approved drawings and engineer.