Cement and sand mix calculator (rait cement ka hisaab)
Bags of cement and rehri of sand 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 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.
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?
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. Below the DPC use 1 : 4 or stronger.
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 priceBuying or selling? Pick the society and plot size for an estimated price range and the FBR reference value.
- Cost by plot sizePick the area, plot size and dimensions; get cement bags, steel kg, bricks, labour, grey-structure and finishing cost.
- TilesRooms in, tiles and boxes out, with wastage, bedding mortar and cost.
- PaintLitres, gallons and drums for walls and ceilings, with primer and putty.
- Bricks & blocksBricks, concrete blocks or AAC blocks for a wall, with mortar or adhesive.
- Concrete & steelCement, sand and crush for a slab, beam or lintel, and steel counted from the drawing.
- WiringMetres and 90 m bundles by wire size for the whole house.
- Cost estimateA grey-structure and finishing budget for your covered area at the rates you are quoted today.
- 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.