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NXT Level Coverage Calculator: How Many Bags of Self-Leveler?
Enter your floor area and the average pour thickness to see how many 50 lb (22.7 kg) bags of NXT Level to buy. LATICRETE's coverage chart gives 22 sq ft per bag at 1/4 inch; the calculator scales that figure to your thickness, which reproduces 15 of the 17 rows in the chart exactly. The numbers come from the North American data sheet DS-504-1026. This page covers NXT Level, not NXT Level Plus, which comes in a 55 lb bag with a different chart.
LATICRETE NXT Level coverage
| Thickness | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 0.125 in (3.2 mm) | 44 sq ft | 4.1 m² |
| 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | 22 sq ft | 2 m² |
| 0.5 in (12.7 mm) | 11 sq ft | 1 m² |
| 1 in (25.4 mm) | 5.5 sq ft | 0.5 m² |
| 3 in (76.2 mm) | 1.8 sq ft | 0.2 m² |
Source: LATICRETE Data Sheet: NXT Level (North America, English), DS-504-1026, Revision DS-504-1026 (© 2026), linked from the laticrete.com product page, read 2026-10-17.
How the calculation works
bags = area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) × thickness ÷ (coverage at reference thickness × reference thickness), rounded up
Self-leveler volume scales with thickness: twice as thick needs twice as many bags. Low spots in the floor add to the real average thickness, so measure the deepest point and the average before you pour.
Worked example
A 300 sq ft floor poured 0.375 in thick with 10% extra: 330 sq ft to cover. One bag covers 22 sq ft at 0.25 in, so at 0.375 in it covers 22 × 0.25 ÷ 0.375 = 14.7 sq ft. 330 ÷ 14.7 = 22.5 bags, so buy 23 (1,150 lb).
LATICRETE NXT Level key specs
| Product type | Self-leveling underlayment |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 50 lb (22.7 kg) |
| Mixing water per bag (max) | 4.5 US qt (4.3 L) |
| Thickness range | 0.125–3 in |
| Coverage (data sheet) | 22.0 sq ft (2.0 m²) per 50 lb bag at 1/4" (6 mm); 44.0 at 1/8", 11.0 at 1/2", 7.3 at 3/4", 5.5 at 1", 2.7 at 2", 1.9 at 3" (76 mm) |
| Mixing water | 4.0–4.5 US qt (3.8–4.3 L) per 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag; do not overwater |
| Pour depth | 1/8" to 3" (3 to 76 mm) in a single lift, tapered to zero at edges; ask LATICRETE Technical Services for deeper pours |
| Flow test | 10–12" with the large flow ring, 5–6" with the small ring (TDS 235N) |
| Set time (ASTM C1708) | initial 20–30 min, final 35–40 min |
| Walkable | 2–3 hours at 70°F (21°C) |
| Install floor covering | non-moisture-sensitive tile and stone once walkable (about 2–3 hours); other floor coverings from 16 hours in good drying conditions (65–75°F, 40–60% RH) |
| Compressive strength | 2,700 psi at 1 day, 4,200 psi at 7 days, 5,000 psi (34.5 MPa) at 28 days (ASTM C1708 / C109) |
| Flexural / tensile bond | 750–1,000 psi flexural (ASTM C1708); 275–305 psi tensile bond (ASTM C1583), both at 28 days |
| Fire rating | UL-certified for up to 2 hours in rated floor-ceiling assemblies (ANSI/UL 263); ASTM E84 Class A, flame spread 0, smoke developed 0 |
| Installed dry weight | 2.7 lb per sq ft at 1/4" (6 mm) |
| Temperature | substrate 40–90°F (4–32°C), air 50–90°F (10–32°C) during application |
| Use | interior only; not a wear surface; not for submerged areas; not over waterproofing or crack isolation membranes; no rolling dynamic loads for 72 hours |
| Standard | ANSI A118.16 |
| Packaging | 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag, part 0900-0050-21, 56 per pallet; 2,500 lb (1,133.9 kg) bulk bag, part 0900-2500-21 |
What NXT Level is for
NXT Level is a cement-based self-leveling underlayment from LATICRETE, the company behind 254 Platinum, HYDRO BAN and SPECTRALOCK. You mix it with water, pump or pour it onto a primed floor, and it flows out into a flat base for the floor covering that goes on top. It is an underlayment, not a finished floor, and LATICRETE limits it to interior use.
Two things set it apart in LATICRETE's own description. First, depth: it can go from 1/8 inch to 3 inches (3 to 76 mm) in a single lift and be tapered to zero at the edges, so most floors need only one placement. Second, fire rating: NXT Level is UL-certified for up to 2 hours in rated floor-ceiling assemblies (tested to ANSI/UL 263, also known as ASTM E119) and is Class A under ASTM E84, with a flame spread index and smoke developed index of 0. LATICRETE pitches it as a replacement for gypsum underlayments in multi-family and commercial buildings, and as a direct replacement for its older DRYTEK LEVELEX.
The data sheet lists suitable substrates as concrete, cement mortar beds, cement backer board, cement terrazzo, ceramic tile and stone, vinyl tile, gypsum underlayments and exterior glue plywood (interior only). Floor coverings on top can include wood, resilient flooring, cork, ceramic, stone and carpet. It can go over approved sound mats at a minimum pour depth of 1 inch.
How the calculator works out bags
For a self-leveler, pour depth decides almost everything. One 50 lb bag makes a roughly fixed volume of material, and LATICRETE's chart gives 22.0 sq ft at 1/4 inch, which is about 0.46 cubic feet per bag. Pour twice as thick and the same bag covers half the area: 11.0 sq ft at 1/2 inch, 5.5 sq ft at 1 inch.
The calculator takes your area, adds the waste allowance you choose, and divides by the coverage at your thickness, scaled in a straight line from the 1/4 inch figure. LATICRETE prints an unusually detailed chart, with a row every 1/16 inch from 1/8 to 1 inch plus 2 and 3 inches, and the straight-line figure matches 15 of those 17 rows to the printed decimal. At 2 inches the chart says 2.7 sq ft and the calculator uses 2.75; at 3 inches the chart says 1.9 and the calculator uses 1.83. Bags are always rounded up.
Enter the average thickness, not the deepest spot. If the floor has low areas, survey it first: LATICRETE recommends a digital or electronic leveling device and elevation pins where level tolerances matter, and its chart note says coverage varies with surface texture. For a floor with very different zones, run the calculator once per zone and add the results.
Thickness range
The data sheet allows 1/8 inch to 3 inches in one lift and asks you to call LATICRETE Technical Services before going deeper. The calculator accepts that same range without a warning. Over wood substrates, LATICRETE requires at least 1/2 inch (12 mm) of NXT Level with diamond lath, so set the thickness to 1/2 inch or more for plywood floors. Over sound mats, the minimum is 1 inch.
Preparation and priming in brief
LATICRETE puts the detailed preparation rules in a separate guide, TDS 230 (Substrate Preparation and Primer Guide for LATICRETE Self-Leveling Products). The NXT Level data sheet limits primers to Primer Plus, Prime-N-Bond, VAPOR BAN Primer ER, or a general epoxy primer with a sand broadcast, and asks you to keep the primed surface clean with no foot traffic before the pour.
The limitations list is worth reading before you buy. NXT Level must not go over particleboard, chipboard, hardboard, luan, asbestos, gypsum-based patching compounds, asphalt, coal tar, lightweight insulating concrete or painted surfaces. It must not go over waterproofing or crack isolation membranes; if you need a membrane, it goes on top of the dry leveler. It is not a vapor barrier. Concrete can test at up to 100% RH under ASTM F2170, but if moisture exceeds the floor covering maker's limit, LATICRETE calls for VAPOR BAN E, VAPOR BAN ER or VAPOR BAN Primer ER first.
Mixing and timing
Each 50 lb bag takes 4.0 to 4.5 quarts (3.8 to 4.3 L) of water, noticeably less than many self-levelers, and the data sheet warns twice against overwatering. Add the powder to the water and mix 2 to 3 minutes with a heavy-duty drill at 650 rpm, or run it through compatible pump equipment. A flow test tells you whether the mix is right: 10 to 12 inches with the large flow ring or 5 to 6 inches with the small ring.
Initial set comes at 20 to 30 minutes and final set at 35 to 40 minutes, so plan batches and crew before you start. Substrate temperature must stay between 40°F and 90°F (4°C to 32°C) and air temperature between 50°F and 90°F (10°C to 32°C); keep direct sunlight off the pour, and do not damp-cure or use curing compounds. The floor is walkable in 2 to 3 hours, tile and stone can follow once it is walkable, and other coverings can go down from about 16 hours in good drying conditions. Keep rolling loads like scissor lifts off for at least 72 hours.
FAQ
How much does a bag of NXT Level cover?
LATICRETE's data sheet DS-504-1026 gives 22.0 sq ft (2.0 m²) per 50 lb bag at 1/4 inch. Coverage scales with depth: 44.0 sq ft at 1/8 inch, 14.7 at 3/8 inch, 11.0 at 1/2 inch, 7.3 at 3/4 inch, 5.5 at 1 inch, 2.7 at 2 inches and 1.9 at 3 inches. LATICRETE notes that coverage varies with the texture of the surface and recommends a survey of the floor before ordering.
Does the calculator match LATICRETE's chart?
For every row from 1/8 inch to 1 inch, yes: 22 sq ft at 1/4 inch scaled in a straight line gives exactly the printed figure. Two rows differ slightly. At 2 inches the chart says 2.7 sq ft and the straight line gives 2.75, about 2% more. At 3 inches the chart says 1.9 and the line gives 1.83, about 4% less. For deep pours, keep the waste allowance at 10% or more and the bag count stays on the safe side of the chart.
How much water goes in a bag of NXT Level?
Mix each 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag with 4.0 to 4.5 US quarts (3.8 to 4.3 L) of water. Add the powder to the water and mix for 2 to 3 minutes with a heavy-duty drill at about 650 rpm until it is lump-free. LATICRETE warns that overwatering weakens the product, and asks for a flow test on every job: 10 to 12 inches with the large flow ring or 5 to 6 inches with the small ring.
Is NXT Level the same as NXT Level Plus?
No. Both are LATICRETE self-levelers sold in North America, but NXT Level comes in a 50 lb bag, pours from 1/8 to 3 inches and covers 22 sq ft per bag at 1/4 inch, while NXT Level Plus (data sheet DS-505) comes in a 55 lb bag, pours from 1/8 to 2 inches and covers 24 sq ft per bag at 1/4 inch. Check the bag before you use this calculator; the numbers here are for NXT Level only.
When can I tile over NXT Level?
At 70°F (21°C) it is walkable in 2 to 3 hours, and LATICRETE says non-moisture-sensitive tile and stone can go down once it is walkable. Other floor coverings such as vinyl, wood or carpet can go down as soon as 16 hours after the pour in good drying conditions, meaning 65 to 75°F and 40 to 60% relative humidity. Cooler air, higher humidity, poor ventilation and thicker pours all add drying time.
LATICRETE and LATICRETE NXT Level are trademarks of their owner. This page is an independent estimate based on the published data sheet; check the bag label before mixing.