Quick answer: As a rule of thumb, a typical brick-and-RCC house in Pakistan needs about 0.4 to 0.5 bags of cement, 1.6 to 1.9 cft of sand and 1.2 to 1.4 cft of crush per sq ft of covered area for grey structure. That means a 5 marla double storey (2,000 sq ft) needs roughly 800 to 1,000 cement bags, and a 10 marla double storey (3,400 sq ft) needs roughly 1,400 to 1,700 bags.
Rules of thumb are useful for early budgeting. For purchasing, calculate from your drawings using the formulas below or, better still, the BOQ prepared by your engineer.
Quick Estimate Table
| House | Covered area | Cement (50 kg bags) | Sand (cft) | Crush (cft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 marla single storey | 1,000 sq ft | 400 - 500 | 1,600 - 1,900 | 1,200 - 1,400 |
| 5 marla double storey | 2,000 sq ft | 800 - 1,000 | 3,200 - 3,800 | 2,400 - 2,800 |
| 10 marla double storey | 3,400 sq ft | 1,400 - 1,700 | 5,500 - 6,500 | 4,000 - 4,800 |
| 1 kanal double storey | 6,000 sq ft | 2,500 - 3,000 | 10,000 - 11,500 | 7,000 - 8,500 |
Quantities include foundations, RCC, masonry and plaster, but vary with design, slab thickness, wall thickness and specification.
Basic Conversion Values
- 1 bag of cement = 50 kg = about 1.25 cft
- Dry volume factor for concrete = 1.54 (dry materials shrink when mixed with water)
- Dry volume factor for mortar = about 1.27 to 1.33
- 1 cubic metre = 35.31 cft
1. Concrete: Cement, Sand and Crush per 100 cft
Formula: Dry volume = wet volume x 1.54. Divide by the total parts of the ratio, then multiply by each part.
| Mix ratio | Typical use | Cement (bags) | Sand (cft) | Crush (cft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1.5:3 | Columns, beams, slabs (higher strength) | 22.4 | 42 | 84 |
| 1:2:4 | Slabs, beams, lintels (general RCC) | 17.6 | 44 | 88 |
| 1:3:6 | Mass concrete, floor base | 12.3 | 46 | 92 |
| 1:4:8 | Foundation PCC (lean concrete) | 9.5 | 47 | 95 |
Learn when to use each ratio in our concrete mix ratio guide.
Worked example: roof slab
A 10 marla ground-floor roof slab of 1,600 sq ft at 5 inches thick:
- Wet volume = 1,600 x (5 / 12) = 667 cft
- For 1:2:4: cement = 6.67 x 17.6 = about 117 bags
- Sand = 6.67 x 44 = about 293 cft
- Crush = 6.67 x 88 = about 587 cft
Add 3 to 5 percent for wastage.
2. Brick Masonry: Cement and Sand per 100 cft
100 cft of brickwork uses about 1,120 standard bricks and about 25 cft of wet mortar (about 33 cft dry).
| Mortar ratio | Typical use | Cement (bags) | Sand (cft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:4 | 4.5-inch partition walls, high strength | 5.3 | 26.4 |
| 1:5 | Partition walls | 4.4 | 27.5 |
| 1:6 | 9-inch load-bearing walls | 3.8 | 28.3 |
To count the bricks themselves, use our free brick calculator or read how many bricks a house needs.
3. Plaster: Cement and Sand per 100 sq ft
| Plaster | Thickness | Cement (bags) | Sand (cft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:4 internal | 1/2 inch | 1.0 | 5.1 |
| 1:6 internal | 1/2 inch | 0.73 | 5.4 |
| 1:4 external | 3/4 inch | 1.5 | 7.6 |
These figures include about 20 percent extra for uneven surfaces and joints.
How to Estimate Your Whole House
- List every concrete element (footings, columns, beams, slabs, stairs) and calculate wet volume.
- Calculate brickwork volume for 9-inch and 4.5-inch walls, minus doors and windows.
- Calculate plaster area for internal and external walls and ceilings.
- Apply the tables above and add 3 to 5 percent wastage.
- Compare totals with the rule of thumb. Large differences mean something was missed or doubled.
Buying Tips
- Cement: Buy in batches. Cement loses strength if stored for long in humid conditions. Compare brands in our cement brands guide.
- Sand: Use Chenab sand for RCC and Ravi sand where the specification allows. See Ravi vs Chenab sand.
- Crush: Check grading and cleanliness. See Margalla vs Sargodha crush.
- Truck volumes: Measure the truck body in feet to confirm cft delivered.
Need a precise BOQ? Planet Builders prepares engineer-checked quantities as part of our structural consultancy and grey structure services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cement bags are needed for a 5 marla house?
A 5 marla double-storey house of about 2,000 sq ft typically needs 800 to 1,000 bags of cement for grey structure, including plaster.
How many bags of cement are in 1 cubic metre of 1:2:4 concrete?
About 6.2 to 6.4 bags of 50 kg cement, using a dry volume factor of 1.54.
Why multiply by 1.54 for concrete?
Dry materials have air gaps. When water is added, the volume reduces, so about 54 percent more dry material is needed to produce the required wet volume.
How much wastage should I add?
Add 3 to 5 percent for cement, sand and crush on a well-managed site. Poorly managed sites can waste much more.
Want an accurate material estimate for your drawings? Contact Planet Builders & Interiors.