Masonry Wall Weight Calculator
Quick reference table and calculator for CMU wall weights (PSF). Select block size, density, and grout spacing to get wall weight.
Reference Table
Common CMU wall configurations and their weights (PSF)
| Grout Spacing | Lightweight (103 psf) | Medium Weight (115 psf) | Normal Weight (135 psf) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6" | 8" | 10" | 12" | 6" | 8" | 10" | 12" | 6" | 8" | 10" | 12" | |
| Solid Grouted | 52 | 75 | 93 | 118 | 58 | 78 | 98 | 124 | 63 | 84 | 104 | 133 |
| 16" o.c. | 41 | 60 | 69 | 88 | 47 | 63 | 80 | 94 | 52 | 66 | 86 | 103 |
| 24" o.c. | 37 | 55 | 61 | 79 | 43 | 58 | 72 | 85 | 46 | 61 | 78 | 94 |
| 32" o.c. | 36 | 52 | 57 | 74 | 42 | 55 | 68 | 80 | 47 | 58 | 74 | 89 |
| 48" o.c. | 35 | 50 | 55 | 71 | 41 | 53 | 66 | 77 | 46 | 56 | 72 | 86 |
| Ungrouted | 24 | 31 | 37 | 42 | 26 | 33 | 40 | 46 | 28 | 36 | 44 | 50 |
• Per ASTM C90-06 - "Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units"
• Per NCMA TEK 14-01B "Section Properties Of Concrete Masonry Walls"
Custom Calculator
Calculate wall weight with custom bond beam spacing
Enter spacing in inches to include bond beam weight in calculation
Enter veneer weight in PSF to add to calculation
Notes
- • Normal weight CMU: approximately 135 pcf
- • Medium weight CMU: approximately 115 pcf
- • Lightweight CMU: approximately 105 pcf
- • Does not include additional dead loads such as finishes (unless veneer is specified)
Bond Beam Calculation Method
Bond beams are calculated by determining the proportion of wall height occupied by fully grouted courses:
- • Incremental weight = (Solid grouted weight) - (Base wall weight)
- • Proportion = 8" (bond beam height) / Bond beam spacing
- • Bond beam contribution = Incremental weight × Proportion
Example: 8" Normal Weight @ 48" o.c. with bond beams @ 24" o.c.
Base weight = 56 PSF | Solid grouted = 84 PSF | Incremental = 28 PSF
Proportion = 8/24 = 0.333 | Contribution = 28 × 0.333 = 9.33 PSF
Total = 56 + 9.33 = 65.33 PSF