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TEC Power Grout Calculator: How Many 25 lb Bags?
Enter your area, tile size and joint width to see how many 25 lb (11.34 kg) bags of TEC Power Grout to buy. The calculator follows the per-pound coverage chart in TEC's product data sheet (DS550, updated August 2026), which covers joints from 1/16 to 1/2 inch, and is set so it never claims more coverage than the chart. For 12 x 12 in tile with 1/8 in joints, TEC's chart gives 14.58 sq ft per pound, or about 364 sq ft per 25 lb bag; the calculator gives about 363.
TEC Power Grout coverage
| Tile | 1/16 in | 1/8 in | 1/4 in | 3/8 in | 1/2 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x 1 x 1/4 in | 3.64 | 1.82 | – | – | – |
| 2 x 2 x 1/4 in | 7.29 | 3.64 | – | – | – |
| 3 x 6 x 1/4 in | 14.58 | 7.29 | 3.64 | 2.43 | 1.82 |
| 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 1/4 in | 15.48 | 7.74 | 3.87 | 2.58 | 1.94 |
| 6 x 6 x 1/4 in | 21.88 | 10.93 | 5.46 | 3.64 | 2.73 |
| 6 x 24 x 3/8 in | 23.31 | 11.66 | 5.83 | 3.89 | 2.91 |
| 6 x 36 x 3/8 in | 25 | 12.48 | 6.25 | 4.16 | 3.12 |
| 8 x 8 x 3/8 in | 19.42 | 9.72 | 4.86 | 3.24 | 2.43 |
| 10 x 10 x 3/8 in | 24.27 | 12.15 | 6.07 | 4.05 | 3.04 |
| 12 x 12 x 3/8 in | 29.15 | 14.58 | 7.29 | 4.86 | 3.64 |
| 12 x 24 x 3/8 in | 38.91 | 19.42 | 9.72 | 6.48 | 4.86 |
| 18 x 18 x 3/8 in | 43.67 | 21.88 | 10.93 | 7.29 | 5.46 |
| 20 x 20 x 3/8 in | 48.54 | 24.27 | 12.15 | 8.1 | 6.07 |
| 24 x 24 x 3/8 in | 58.14 | 29.15 | 14.58 | 9.72 | 7.29 |
Source: TEC Product Data Sheet: Power Grout (550), DS550_R0826-20, updated August 2026, read 2026-10-17.
How the calculation works
grout per sq ft = 144 × (L + W) × J × T ÷ (L × W)
units = area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) × grout per sq ft ÷ joint volume one unit fills, rounded up
L and W are the tile length and width, T the tile thickness (the joint is assumed to be filled to full tile depth) and J the joint width, all in inches; the result is in cubic inches. This is the textbook grout formula, and it is the one this manufacturer's chart follows: worked back from every cell, the chart implies almost the same joint volume per bag. The calculator uses the lowest value any cell implies, so for every tile size in the chart it gives the same or less coverage than the data sheet, never more. Tiles not in the chart use the same formula.
Worked example
A 400 sq ft floor of 12 x 12 x 3/8 in tile with 1/8 in joints and 10% extra: 440 sq ft to grout. Each 12 × 12 in tile (144 sq in) carries (12 + 12) × 1/8 = 3 sq in of joint, 3/8 in deep. That works out to 1.13 cubic inches of grout per sq ft of floor. One 25 lb (11.34 kg) bag fills about 409 cubic inches of joint, so it covers 409 ÷ 1.13 = 363.3 sq ft. 440 ÷ 363.3 = 1.21, so buy 2 bags.
TEC Power Grout key specs
| Product type | Tile grout |
|---|---|
| Package | 25 lb (11.34 kg) bag |
| Mixing water per bag (max) | 2.7 US qt (2.6 L) |
| Joint width range | 1/16–1/2 in |
| Coverage (data sheet) | per pound: 12 x 12 x 3/8" tile 29.15 sq ft at 1/16", 14.58 at 1/8", 7.29 at 1/4", 3.64 at 1/2" (about 729, 364, 182 and 91 sq ft per 25 lb bag); 2 x 2 x 1/4" mosaic 3.64 sq ft per pound at 1/8" (full chart below) |
| Bag sizes | 25 lb (11.34 kg), 10 lb (4.54 kg) and 7 lb (3.18 kg) plastic bags; the chart is per pound, so a 10 lb bag covers 40% and a 7 lb bag 28% of a 25 lb bag |
| Joint width | 1/16" to 1/2" (1.6–12 mm); joints should be clear to at least 2/3 of the tile thickness |
| Mixing | 2.25–2.75 US qt (2.13–2.60 L) cold clean water per 25 lb bag, 3.6–4.4 cups per 10 lb, 2.6–3.1 cups per 7 lb; water first, then powder; drill at 350 rpm max for at least 2 minutes, slake 3–5 minutes, remix 1 minute |
| Pot life | 35–55 minutes |
| Cleaning | let the grout firm up 15–30 minutes before the first sponge pass; remove remaining haze after 30–60 minutes |
| Cure | initial cure 3–4 hours at 72°F (22°C); foot traffic after 4 hours; 24 hours before mopping or shower use; no stains, immersion or freezing for 7 days; final cure 21 days |
| Temperature | 50–80°F (10–27°C) for best results; do not install below 50°F (10°C); steam cleaning not recommended |
| Sealing | never needs sealing; if the tile or stone is sealed afterwards, use a compatible solvent-based sealer, and wait 72 hours before any sealer |
| Standards | exceeds ANSI A118.7 and meets the listed ANSI A118.3 tests; ISO 13007 CG2WAF; 28-day compressive strength 10,300 psi typical; water absorption 1.1%; zero VOC |
| Not for | installations needing chemical resistance; TEC points to its AccuColor EFX epoxy grout there. May scratch polished marble, polished porcelain, glass, metal or glazed tile: test first |
| Shelf life | up to 18 months from manufacture in the unopened bag, stored cool and dry |
What TEC Power Grout is
Power Grout (product number 550) is a dry-powder cement grout from TEC Specialty Products, the tile-setting brand owned by H.B. Fuller. It is mixed with water like a regular sanded grout, but TEC sells it on performance closer to an epoxy: the data sheet says it exceeds ANSI A118.7, the standard for polymer-modified cement grouts, and also meets the ANSI A118.3 shrinkage, compressive strength and vertical sag tests written for epoxy grouts. It carries ISO 13007 classification CG2WAF.
The product data sheet (DS550, updated August 2026) rates Power Grout for joints from 1/16 to 1/2 inch (1.6 to 12 mm), interior and exterior use, and foot traffic from residential to extra heavy commercial. TEC lists stain resistance when spills are cleaned promptly, color consistency without efflorescence, mold and mildew resistance, zero VOC and traffic after 4 hours. Typical 28-day compressive strength is 10,300 psi against the 3,000 psi the standard asks for, and water absorption is 1.1 percent against a 5 percent limit. For installations that need chemical resistance, TEC points to its AccuColor EFX epoxy grout instead.
Reading TEC's per-pound chart
Most grout makers print coverage per bag or per box. TEC prints it per pound of powder, in one chart for US units and one in square meters per kilogram, so the same numbers work for all three bag sizes: 25 lb (11.34 kg), 10 lb (4.54 kg) and 7 lb (3.18 kg). To get coverage for a whole bag, multiply the chart value by the bag weight. For 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch tile with 1/8 inch joints, 14.58 sq ft per pound becomes about 364 sq ft per 25 lb bag, 146 sq ft per 10 lb bag and 102 sq ft per 7 lb bag.
The chart lists 14 tile sizes, from 1 x 1 inch mosaic to 24 x 24 inch porcelain, and five joint widths: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch. There is no 3/16 inch column. For 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 inch mosaics only the 1/16 and 1/8 inch columns are filled in; the table on this page shows the blank cells as a dash. Every number in the table below is copied from the data sheet as printed, per pound.
How the calculator works
Grout fills only the gaps between tiles, so the amount depends on how much joint there is under each square foot of floor. For a tile L by W inches, each tile carries (L + W) × J square inches of joint, where J is the joint width. Multiply by the tile thickness T, because the joint is filled to full depth, divide by the tile area L × W, and multiply by 144 to turn square inches of floor into square feet. The result is cubic inches of grout per square foot.
TEC's chart follows that formula very closely. Working back from all 64 printed cells, every one implies between 16.35 and 16.43 cubic inches of joint per pound of powder, a spread of half a percent that is just rounding in the printed figures. In other words the chart is the textbook formula with one constant. The calculator uses 408.7 cubic inches per 25 lb bag, just under the lowest value any cell implies (16.35 × 25), so it never gives more coverage than the chart. For 12 x 12 inch tile at 1/8 inch it gives about 363 sq ft per bag against the chart's 364.
Some other grout calculators on this site use a slightly different formula that counts the tile plus half a joint on each side, because that fits Custom Building Products' and LATICRETE's charts better. Applied to TEC's chart it would imply anything from 13.7 to 16.3 cubic inches per pound, so this page uses the formula TEC's own numbers follow, as the MAPEI Ultracolor Plus FA page does.
Entering your tile and joint
Use the actual tile size from the box label rather than the nominal size: a "12 x 24" plank may measure 11.8 x 23.6 inches. Enter the real thickness too, since joint depth equals tile thickness in the formula. TEC asks that joints be clear to at least two thirds of the tile thickness before grouting, with high ridges of mortar raked out and spacers removed. If your joints are shallower than the tile, you will use a little less grout than the estimate.
For a worked example, 400 sq ft of 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch tile at 1/8 inch joints with 10 percent waste is 440 sq ft to grout. Each tile carries 24 × 1/8 = 3 square inches of joint, which at 3/8 inch deep works out to 1.125 cubic inches per sq ft of floor. One 25 lb bag fills about 408.7 cubic inches, so it covers about 363 sq ft, and 440 ÷ 363 means two bags. If the result is only a fraction of a bag, multiply the coverage per bag by 0.4 for a 10 lb bag or 0.28 for a 7 lb bag to see whether a smaller bag is enough.
Mixing and installation notes
TEC's mixing order is water first, then powder. A 25 lb bag takes 2.25 to 2.75 US quarts (2.13 to 2.60 L) of cold, clean water, a 10 lb bag 3.6 to 4.4 cups and a 7 lb bag 2.6 to 3.1 cups. Start at the low end, mix with a drill at no more than 350 rpm for at least 2 minutes before judging the consistency, let it slake 3 to 5 minutes and remix for a minute. Pot life is 35 to 55 minutes. TEC recommends using a full bag at a time; if you use part of a bag or bags from different lots, dry-blend all the powder first, because fine pigment can settle in shipping and show as color variation. Keep the water-to-powder ratio the same for every batch on one job.
Pack the joints with a hard rubber float, working 5 to 10 sq ft at a time and moving diagonally across the joints. Power Grout is heavily pigmented, so cover cabinets, countertops and nearby surfaces, especially with dark colors. Let it firm up 15 to 30 minutes before the first sponge pass, then remove the remaining haze after 30 to 60 minutes. TEC warns that it may scratch polished marble, polished porcelain, glass, metal and some glazed tile, so test a small area first. Install between 50 and 80°F (10 and 27°C) and never below 50°F.
After grouting, keep traffic off for 4 hours, wait 24 hours before mopping or using a shower, and avoid stains, immersion and freezing for 7 days. Final cure takes 21 days. TEC says Power Grout never needs sealing, and steam cleaning is not recommended.
Check before you buy
TEC describes its coverage figures as guidelines only, and the calculator inherits that: real use depends on exact tile size, joint depth, how cleanly joints are struck and how much is lost in the bucket. Add waste for irregular stone, handmade tile and floors with many cuts. Buy enough bags of one color in a single trip so they share a lot number, and check current colors on TEC's website or the store's sample board. This site is not affiliated with TEC or H.B. Fuller.
FAQ
How much does a 25 lb bag of TEC Power Grout cover?
It depends on tile size and joint width. TEC prints coverage per pound, so multiply by 25 for a full bag. For 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch tile, the data sheet gives 14.58 sq ft per pound at 1/8 inch joints, about 364 sq ft per bag; 29.15 per pound at 1/16 inch (about 729 sq ft per bag); and 3.64 per pound at 1/2 inch (about 91 sq ft per bag). A 2 x 2 inch mosaic at 1/8 inch covers 3.64 sq ft per pound, about 91 sq ft per bag. TEC says the figures are guidelines only.
Should I buy a 10 lb or 7 lb bag instead?
Because TEC's chart is per pound, smaller bags scale by weight: a 10 lb bag covers 40 percent of a 25 lb bag and a 7 lb bag 28 percent. This calculator counts 25 lb bags. If it shows coverage of, say, 364 sq ft per bag and your job is a 60 sq ft backsplash, 364 × 0.28 is about 102 sq ft, so a single 7 lb bag is enough. TEC recommends mixing a full bag at a time, so a smaller bag also means less waste.
Why are some mosaic cells blank in the chart?
TEC's data sheet only lists the 1/16 and 1/8 inch columns for 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 inch mosaics; the wider columns are blank, shown as a dash in the table on this page. The calculator still works for wider mosaic joints using the same formula, but treat those results as an estimate outside the printed chart and add a little extra.
Does Power Grout need to be sealed?
No. TEC says Power Grout never needs sealing. If you seal the tile or stone after grouting, TEC asks for a compatible solvent-based sealer and a test area first; for a water-based sealer, contact TEC Technical Support for its approved list, and in either case let the grout cure 72 hours before sealing. Maximum stain resistance comes after 7 days of curing.
How long before I can walk on it or use the shower?
According to the data sheet, protect the floor from foot traffic and impact for at least 4 hours, wait 24 hours before mopping, routine cleaning or shower use, and keep it away from stains, full water immersion and freezing for 7 days. Initial cure is 3 to 4 hours at 72°F (22°C) and final cure 21 days.
TEC and TEC Power Grout are trademarks of their owner. This page is an independent estimate based on the published data sheet; check the bag label before mixing.