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MAPEI Planipatch Calculator: Bags per sq ft by Thickness
Enter the floor area and the average thickness you will pull with the trowel to see how many 25 lb (11.3 kg) bags of MAPEI Planipatch to buy. MAPEI rates one 25 lb bag at 25 to 35 sq ft at 1/8 inch and 100 to 140 sq ft at 1/32 inch; the calculator uses the low end of that range and scales it to your thickness, so it never claims more coverage than the data sheet. Figures come from the MAPEI US data sheet MK 3000515, edition date October 2, 2024.
MAPEI Planipatch coverage
| Thickness | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1/32 in (0.8 mm) | 100 sq ft | 9.3 m² |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 25 sq ft | 2.3 m² |
| 1/4 in (6.4 mm) | 12.5 sq ft | 1.2 m² |
| 1/2 in (12.7 mm) | 6.3 sq ft | 0.6 m² |
Source: MAPEI Technical Data Sheet: Planipatch Fast-Setting, Polymer-Modified, Cement-Based Patching Compound (US), MK 3000515 (24-1720), Edition Date October 2, 2024, read 2026-10-29.
How the calculation works
bags = area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) × thickness ÷ (coverage at reference thickness × reference thickness), rounded up
Patch volume scales with thickness: a skim coat an eighth of an inch thick uses half the powder of a quarter-inch fill. Manufacturers rate the bag at one or two fixed thicknesses, and where the data sheet gives a range this calculator divides by the low end, so enter the thickness you will actually trowel on.
Worked example
A 200 sq ft floor patched 1/16 in thick with 10% extra: 220 sq ft to cover. One bag covers 25 sq ft at 1/8 in, so at 1/16 in it covers 25 × 0.125 ÷ 0.0625 = 50 sq ft. 220 ÷ 50 = 4.4 bags, so buy 5 (125 lb).
MAPEI Planipatch key specs
| Product type | Floor patch and skim coat |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 25 lb (11.3 kg) |
| Thickness range | 1/32–1/2 in |
| Coverage per 25 lb bag | 25 to 35 sq ft at 1/8" (3 mm), 100 to 140 sq ft at 1/32" (1 mm), from the MAPEI coverage table; the calculator divides by the low end (25 sq ft) |
| Other packages | 10 lb (4.54 kg) bag 10 to 14 sq ft at 1/8"; 45 lb (20.4 kg) pail 45 to 62.8 sq ft at 1/8"; 4.4 lb and 22 lb bags are Canada only |
| Thickness | up to 1/2" (12 mm) in one pass mixed with water; up to 1/4" (6 mm) mixed with diluted Planipatch Plus; the data sheet coverage table starts at 1/32" |
| Two-coat system | first coat 1/16" to 1/8" mixed with full-strength Planipatch Plus, second coat 1/32" to 1/4" mixed with diluted Planipatch Plus (1 part Plus to 3 parts water) |
| Mixing water | the table gives 45 to 50 US oz (1.33 to 1.48 L) for the 10 lb bag and 20 to 22 oz for the 4.4 lb bag; mix 1 part liquid to 2.5 to 3 parts powder by volume and never overwater |
| Pot life and drying | pot life 8 to 10 minutes at 73°F (23°C); 60 to 90 minutes before floor covering, or once completely dry; thicker passes take longer |
| Strength and VOC | compressive strength above 3,500 psi (24.1 MPa) at 28 days (ASTM C109); VOC content 0 g per L |
| Substrates | concrete, APA or CANPLY Group 1 exterior-glue plywood and other approved wood underlayments mixed with water or diluted Planipatch Plus; terrazzo, ceramic tile, one layer of VCT, felt-backed sheet vinyl, cutback and carpet adhesive residue only when mixed with full-strength Planipatch Plus |
| Limits | interior only; substrate and air 50°F to 100°F (10°C to 38°C); never a wear surface; not over asbestos, self-stick tile, particleboard or similar; do not fill expansion joints; for large areas use a self-leveling underlayment instead |
| Shelf life | 1 year in the original container, stored at 73°F (23°C) in a heated area; dry-blend the powder before mixing |
What MAPEI Planipatch is for
Planipatch is MAPEI's fast-setting, polymer-modified, cement-based patching compound. It is the product you reach for when a concrete or wood subfloor is structurally sound but not flat enough to take the new floor: rough broom finish, trowel ridges, seams, small hollows, cracks, old adhesive ghosts. It goes on with a flat steel trowel, sets in minutes and takes floor covering within the hour, which is why it is a staple on jobs where the vinyl or LVT is going down the same day.
Two mixes, two jobs. With water or diluted Planipatch Plus it is a single-coat skim or patch over concrete and approved wood underlayments. With full-strength Planipatch Plus it becomes an embossing leveler: it will bond to properly prepared terrazzo, ceramic tile, one layer of VCT, non-cushioned felt-backed sheet vinyl, and cutback or carpet adhesive residue, which is the case where most patching products give up. That version is applied in two coats.
It is an underlayment, not a floor. MAPEI is explicit that it is not a final wear surface and not a vapor barrier, that it is for interior work only, and that it must not go over asbestos-containing substrates, self-stick tile, particleboard or similar dimensionally unstable boards, or into expansion joints.
How the bag count is worked out
Planipatch is sold as a fixed weight of powder, so a bag covers a fixed volume of patch. MAPEI's coverage table gives two reference points for the 25 lb bag: 100 to 140 sq ft at 1/32 inch (1 mm) and 25 to 35 sq ft at 1/8 inch (3 mm). Those rows are the same volume spread four times as thick, which is exactly why this calculator can scale linearly with thickness: at 1/16 inch the 25 lb bag covers about 50 sq ft, at 1/4 inch about 12 sq ft.
Because MAPEI publishes a range rather than a single number, the calculator divides by the low end — 25 sq ft at 1/8 inch — the same rule used on every page on this site. On a smooth, well-primed slab you will probably finish with powder left over; on a rough, open, thirsty slab you will not be short. Coverage on the data sheet is labelled as an estimate only, and MAPEI says the real figure depends on substrate conditions, mixing equipment, thickness and application method.
The practical consequence is that thickness, not area, is the number that decides your order. Doubling the trowel thickness doubles the bags. On a typical floor the patch is not uniform: a few millimetres over the hollows, a featheredge elsewhere. Two honest ways to estimate it:
- Use the covered share. If a third of a 300 sq ft floor needs 1/8 inch and the rest needs nothing, run the calculator on 100 sq ft.
- Split the job. Price a full skim at 1/32 inch and the patch zones at 1/4 inch separately, then add the bags. Powder is cheap; running out mid-floor with a bucket already setting is not.
Mixing: the part that catches people out
The pot life is 8 to 10 minutes at 73°F (23°C). That is not a typo, and it is the single biggest difference between Planipatch and a self-leveler. Mix small batches — the data sheet says outright not to mix more than you can place in that window — and clean tools with water while the product is still wet, because cured patch has to be taken off mechanically.
MAPEI's mixing ratios are given by volume: 1 part liquid to 2.5 to 3 parts powder. For the 10 lb bag that is 45 to 50 US oz of water; for the 4.4 lb bag, 20 to 22 oz. Pour the liquid in first, add powder while mixing slowly at about 300 rpm for no more than 2 minutes, and stop as soon as it is smooth and lump-free. Water temperature above 73°F (23°C) shortens the pot life further, and adding water to a mix that has started to set weakens it — the data sheet warns about overwatering twice.
For the two-coat system, the first coat is mixed with full-strength Planipatch Plus and pulled 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick, then allowed to dry completely. The second coat is mixed with diluted Plus (1 part Plus to 3 parts water) at 1/32 to 1/4 inch, and must cover every square inch of the first coat. Both coats need at least 60 minutes before floor covering.
Thickness limits and when to use something else
Single pass, Planipatch goes up to 1/2 inch (12 mm) mixed with water, or 1/4 inch (6 mm) mixed with diluted Plus. The published coverage table starts at 1/32 inch, which is where this calculator stops, though a true featheredge is thinner than that and uses less powder per square foot, so a 1/32 inch estimate stays safe.
Above those limits, or when a whole room needs to come up more than half an inch, the right product is a self-leveling underlayment rather than a patch — MAPEI says as much in its own limitations, pointing to its self-leveling range for large-area leveling. This site compares nine self-levelers, including MAPEI's Ultraplan Easy and Novoplan 2 Plus, in the self-leveler section.
Two more limits are worth knowing before you buy. Substrate and air must be between 50°F and 100°F (10°C to 38°C) — garages and unheated sites in winter will stall the cure. And the substrate has to be sound, dry, clean and free of curing compounds, sealers, oil, paint and loose material; MAPEI's surface preparation guide is the reference for that, and preparation failures account for most patch callbacks.
Specs that matter on site
Compressive strength is above 3,500 psi (24.1 MPa) at 28 days by ASTM C109, VOC content is 0 g per L, and shelf life is one year in the original container stored at 73°F (23°C) in a heated area. Packaging in the US is a 10 lb bag, a 25 lb bag and a 45 lb pail; the 4.4 lb and 22 lb bags are Canadian sizes. Dry-blend the powder before mixing, because the bag settles in transit.
This calculator is set up for the 25 lb bag, the size most US distributors stock. For the 45 lb pail, multiply the bag count by 25 ÷ 45 (about 0.56); for the 10 lb bag, multiply by 25 ÷ 10.
What this calculator does not do
It does not know how rough or how porous your floor is, and it does not decide your thickness. It also does not model the two-coat embossing system separately — the powder volume is the same either way, so the bag count holds, but remember that the two-coat method also needs Planipatch Plus on site, and that the coverage table is for a single mixed batch. If in doubt, buy one extra bag: on a 200 sq ft skim that is a few dollars, and it is the difference between finishing the room and driving to the supplier.
FAQ
How much does a 25 lb bag of MAPEI Planipatch cover?
MAPEI's coverage table gives 25 to 35 sq ft at 1/8 inch (3 mm) and 100 to 140 sq ft at 1/32 inch (1 mm) for the 25 lb bag. The two rows describe the same volume of powder spread at four times the thickness, so coverage scales with thickness: about 50 sq ft at 1/16 inch and about 12 sq ft at 1/4 inch. This calculator divides by the low end of the range (25 sq ft at 1/8 inch), so on a smooth floor you may finish with powder left over rather than short.
How many bags for 200 sq ft at 1/8 inch?
200 sq ft plus 10% waste is 220 sq ft. At 25 sq ft per bag that is 220 ÷ 25 = 8.8, so 9 bags, or 225 lb of powder. If you are only filling seams, hollows and trowel marks rather than skimming the whole floor, measure the patched area instead of the room; a 200 sq ft room with a third of the floor patched is a 67 sq ft job, about 3 bags.
What is the difference between the 10 lb bag, the 25 lb bag and the 45 lb pail?
Same powder, different package. Per the coverage table, a 10 lb bag covers 10 to 14 sq ft at 1/8 inch, a 25 lb bag 25 to 35 sq ft and a 45 lb pail 45 to 62.8 sq ft. Pot life is only 8 to 10 minutes, so on small repairs the 10 lb bag is easier to use up before it sets; the pail is for full-room skims. This calculator is set up for the 25 lb bag — for the pail, multiply the bag count by 25 ÷ 45, or about 0.56.
Do I mix Planipatch with water or with Planipatch Plus?
Water or diluted Planipatch Plus for a single coat over concrete and approved wood underlayments — skim coating and filling minor voids. Full-strength Planipatch Plus is what lets it bond to terrazzo, ceramic tile, VCT, felt-backed sheet vinyl and adhesive residue, and that is a two-coat job: first coat 1/16 to 1/8 inch with full-strength Plus, second coat 1/32 to 1/4 inch with diluted Plus. Coverage is the same powder volume either way, so the bag count does not change, but you need Plus on site for the two-coat system.
How thick can Planipatch be applied?
Up to 1/2 inch (12 mm) in a single pass mixed with water, or 1/4 inch (6 mm) mixed with diluted Planipatch Plus. The published coverage table only goes down to 1/32 inch (1 mm), which is why the calculator stops there; a true featheredge is thinner than that but uses less powder per square foot, so a 1/32 inch estimate is safe for it. For anything deeper than 1/2 inch over a whole room, use a self-leveling underlayment — MAPEI's own range and the other brands are compared in the self-leveler section.
How soon can flooring go down over Planipatch?
60 to 90 minutes at 73°F (23°C), or once the patch is completely dry — MAPEI's headline claim is floor coverings in about an hour. Thicker passes, cold floors and humid air all stretch that. Keep traffic, dirt and dust off it until the finished floor goes down, and note that it is an underlayment: it is not a wear surface and it is not a vapor barrier.
MAPEI and MAPEI Planipatch are trademarks of their owner. This page is an independent estimate based on the published data sheet; check the bag label before mixing.