Caulk Calculator (Tubes of Caulk or Sealant per Linear Foot)
How many tubes of caulk or sealant to buy: linear feet per cartridge for your joint width and depth (or a triangular corner bead), and cartridges for the total length.
Formula
Cartridge volume = fl oz × 1.80469 cu in. Bead area = width × depth (or leg² ÷ 2). Linear feet per cartridge = volume ÷ (bead area × 12). Cartridges = length × (1 + waste) ÷ feet per cartridge.
Worked example
Inputs: Total joint length = 100 ft; Joint width (or bead leg) = 0.25 in; Joint depth = 0.25 in; Bead shape = Rectangular joint (width × depth); Cartridge size = 10.1 fl oz; Waste = 10 %.
| Bead cross section sqin | 0.063 |
|---|---|
| Cartridge cu in | 18.23 |
| Linear ft per cartridge | 24.3 |
| Cartridges exact | 4.53 |
| Cartridges to buy | 5 |
| Fl oz needed | 45.7 |
1 US fl oz = 1.80469 cu in, so a 10.1 fl oz cartridge holds 18.2 cu in. Linear feet = cartridge volume ÷ (joint width × depth × 12). For a triangular fillet bead (corner joint), the cross-section is leg² ÷ 2 (depth is ignored). Checks against a sealant maker's chart: 24 ft at 1/4 × 1/4 in, 11 ft at 3/8 × 3/8, 6 ft at 1/2 × 1/2.
FAQ
How many feet does a tube of caulk cover?
A 10.1 fl oz tube (18.2 cu in) runs about 24 ft at 1/4 × 1/4 in, 11 ft at 3/8 × 3/8 in and 6 ft at 1/2 × 1/2 in. A thin 1/8 × 1/8 in bead goes about 97 ft.
How many tubes for 100 feet?
At 1/4 × 1/4 in: 100 ÷ 24.3 = 4.1 tubes, so 5 with 10% waste.
How far does a corner bead go?
A triangular bead with 1/4 in legs has half the area of a 1/4 × 1/4 in joint, so a 10.1 oz tube runs about 49 ft.
What about 20 oz sausage packs?
20 fl oz is 36.1 cu in, about 48 ft at 1/4 × 1/4 in.
Why does my tube run out sooner?
Joints are rarely uniform, and tooling, overfill and what stays in the tube all add up. Measure the real joint width and depth, and keep a waste allowance.
Sources
- Bostik DUO-SIL sealant technical data sheet: a 10.1 fl oz (300 ml) cartridge covers about 24 linear feet with a 1/4 in bead and 11 with a 3/8 in bead; coverage chart by joint width and depth
- Geometry (volume/area formulas); no external constant needed
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Last reviewed 2026-10-30.