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LATICRETE 253 Gold Coverage Calculator: How Many Bags?
Enter your area and trowel notch to see how many 50 lb (22.7 kg) bags of 253 Gold thin-set mortar to buy. The coverage figures come from LATICRETE's North American data sheet for the product, DS-296, and match the coverage chart on LATICRETE's product page.
LATICRETE 253 Gold coverage
| Trowel notch | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4" x 1/4" notched trowel (6 x 6 mm notched trowel) | 80–95 sq ft | 7.4–8.8 m² |
| 1/4" x 3/8" notched trowel (6 x 9 mm notched trowel) | 60–70 sq ft | 5.6–6.5 m² |
| 1/4" x 3/16" notch, setting STRATA_MAT only (6 x 5 mm notch, setting STRATA_MAT only) | 110–120 sq ft | 10.2–11.1 m² |
Source: LATICRETE Product Data Sheet DS-296: 253 GOLD (North America), DS-296-1026; coverage chart T-10815-FD-1025, read 2026-10-18.
How the calculation works
bags = area × (1 + waste ÷ 100) ÷ coverage per bag, rounded up
The manufacturer gives a coverage range for each trowel size because the real figure depends on the tile back, the substrate and how much mortar ends up in the ridges. This calculator divides by the low end of the range, so the number it tells you to buy should not leave you short. If you back-butter large tiles, plan for coverage at or below the low end.
Worked example
A 220 sq ft floor with a 1/4" x 3/8" notched trowel trowel and 10% extra: 220 × 1.1 = 242 sq ft. At the low end of the coverage range (60 sq ft per bag) that is 242 ÷ 60 = 4.03 bags, so buy 5 (at the high end, 70 sq ft per bag, 4 would be enough). That is 250 lb of powder.
LATICRETE 253 Gold key specs
| Product type | Thinset mortar |
|---|---|
| Bag size | 50 lb (22.7 kg) |
| Mixing water per bag (max) | 5.5 US qt (5.2 L) |
| Mixing water | about 5.5 US qt (5.2 L) per 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag |
| Small batches | 7 parts powder to 2 parts water (7:2) |
| Slake time | 5–10 minutes, then remix; do not add more water or powder |
| Open time | 60 minutes |
| Pot life | 4 hours |
| Time before grouting | at least 24 hours at 70°F (21°C) |
| Time to heavy traffic (data sheet) | 24 hours |
| Surface temperature | 40°F to 90°F (4–32°C) |
| Substrate flatness | plumb and true to within 1/4" in 10 ft (6 mm in 3 m) |
| New concrete | damp cured and at least 28 days old |
| Standards | exceeds ANSI A118.4 and A118.11; ISO 13007-1 class C2 |
| Porcelain shear strength, 28 days | 350–450 psi (2.4–3.1 MPa); ANSI A118.4 asks for more than 200 psi |
| Wet density | 12.6 lb/gal (1.5 g/ml) |
| Bag size and colors | 50 lb (22.7 kg), white or grey; 56 bags per pallet |
| Shelf life | 2 years in the sealed bag (non-rapid versions); high humidity shortens it |
What 253 Gold is for
253 Gold is LATICRETE's mid-range one-step thin-set mortar. It is a polymer-fortified cement powder that you mix with plain water, with no separate latex additive. LATICRETE designs it for interior and exterior floors and walls, setting ceramic tile, porcelain tile and natural stone over concrete, exterior glue plywood and a long list of other substrates. It exceeds ANSI A118.4 and A118.11 and is classed C2 under ISO 13007-1. The figures on this page come from the North American data sheet DS-296, revision 1026, which LATICRETE links from its own product page, and they agree with LATICRETE's separate coverage chart T-10815.
On a store shelf it sits between the basic mortars and LATICRETE's 254 Platinum. It is a common pick for everyday floor and wall tile, backsplashes and showers that do not sit under water.
What it bonds to, and what it does not
DS-296 lists concrete, cement mortar beds, existing ceramic tile and stone, concrete block and masonry, brick masonry, cement plaster, cement terrazzo, gypsum wallboard, plastic laminate, cement backer board, non-water-soluble cut-back adhesive residue, and properly prepared vinyl or other resilient tile. Exterior glue plywood is allowed indoors only, and the data sheet sets a minimum build-up: a 5/8 inch plywood subfloor over joists at no more than 16 inches on center, plus a 5/8 inch plywood underlayment glued and fastened to it.
The limits matter as much as the list. 253 Gold is not for use directly over particle board, luan, Masonite or hardwood floors. It is not for submerged work, so pools, fountains and water features need 254 Platinum instead. Green marble, water-sensitive stone and resin-backed tile call for LATAPOXY 300 Adhesive. Use the white powder under white or light marble so the grey cement does not show through. And like any thin-set, it is not a waterproofing membrane; where you need a waterproof layer, pair it with a membrane such as HYDRO BAN.
Choosing a trowel
The data sheet gives two standard square notches. A 1/4 x 1/4 inch notch covers about 80 to 95 sq ft per 50 lb bag and suits most wall tile and smaller floor tile. A 1/4 x 3/8 inch notch covers about 60 to 70 sq ft and is the usual choice for floor tile around 12 inches and up, which is why the calculator starts there. There is also a third figure for one specific job: setting STRATA_MAT uncoupling mat with a 1/4 x 3/16 inch notch, about 110 to 120 sq ft per bag. That line is only for bedding the mat, not for the tile that goes on top of it.
Unlike the 254 Platinum data sheet, DS-296 does not list a 1/2 inch notch. Large-format tile often needs one, plus back-buttering. The data sheet asks you to back butter any tile larger than 8 x 8 inches. Both steps use more mortar than the table suggests, so allow extra waste for big tile and check transfer by lifting a tile now and then.
How the bag count is worked out
The calculator multiplies your area by one plus the waste percentage, then divides by the low end of the coverage range for the notch you pick, and rounds up to whole bags. For the example of 220 sq ft with 10% waste and a 1/4 x 3/8 inch notch, that is 220 × 1.10 = 242 sq ft, divided by 60 sq ft per bag, which is about 4.03, so you buy 5 bags. With the 1/4 x 1/4 inch notch the same job is 242 ÷ 80, about 3.03, so 4 bags. Using the low end of each range is deliberate. Real coverage depends on how flat the substrate is, how rough the tile back is and how much you back butter, and a part bag left over costs less than a second trip mid-job.
In metric, a 22.7 kg bag covers about 7.4 to 8.8 m² with a 6 x 6 mm notch and 5.6 to 6.5 m² with a 6 x 9 mm notch. Switch the units above to see the result in square meters.
Mixing and working time
Put about 5.5 US quarts (5.2 L) of clean water in a clean pail, then add the 50 lb bag and mix by hand or with a slow-speed mixer to a smooth, trowelable paste. For partial batches the ratio is 7 parts powder to 2 parts water. Let it slake for 5 to 10 minutes, then remix without adding water or powder. Stir it now and then to keep it fluffy and never re-temper it with water.
The data sheet gives a 60-minute open time and a 4-hour pot life. Even so, LATICRETE asks you to spread only as much mortar as you can cover with tile in 15 to 20 minutes. Key a thin coat into the surface with the flat side of the trowel, comb more on with the notched side, and press tile into wet, sticky mortar, moving it back and forth across the ridges. If the mortar has skinned over and no longer feels sticky, scrape it off and spread fresh. White 253 Gold can be tinted with two PERMACOLOR Select color kits per bag; drop all four packets into the water first, and expect to need a little more water.
Curing and conditions
All surfaces should be between 40°F and 90°F (4–32°C), structurally sound and clean of dirt, oil, paint, sealers and curing compounds. New concrete must be damp cured and at least 28 days old, and slabs should be plumb and true to within 1/4 inch in 10 feet. Dry, dusty concrete can be dampened first, and installing on a damp surface is fine. Carry movement joints from the substrate through the tile and keep mortar out of them. Grout after at least 24 hours at 70°F (21°C); the data sheet lists 24 hours to heavy traffic. Cooler temperatures slow both.
FAQ
How much does a 50 lb bag of 253 Gold cover?
LATICRETE's DS-296 gives about 80 to 95 sq ft per 50 lb bag with a 1/4 x 1/4 inch notched trowel and 60 to 70 sq ft with a 1/4 x 3/8 inch notch. When you are only setting STRATA_MAT uncoupling mat with a 1/4 x 3/16 inch notch, one bag covers about 110 to 120 sq ft. The calculator uses the low end of each range so you are less likely to run short.
Does 253 Gold list coverage for a 1/2 inch trowel?
No. The current data sheet and LATICRETE's coverage chart T-10815 only give the 1/4 x 1/4 and 1/4 x 3/8 inch square notches, plus the STRATA_MAT figure. If your tile needs a 1/2 inch notch, plan on roughly half the 1/4 x 1/4 coverage and confirm with LATICRETE technical services, or look at 254 Platinum, whose data sheet does list a 1/2 x 1/2 inch notch at 35 to 40 sq ft per bag.
How much water do I mix with a bag of 253 Gold?
About 5.5 US quarts (5.2 L) of clean water per 50 lb bag. For a smaller batch, use 7 parts powder to 2 parts water. Let it slake 5 to 10 minutes, remix without adding more water or powder, and stir now and then while you work. If you tint white 253 Gold with PERMACOLOR Select color kits, you may need a little extra water.
What is the difference between 253 Gold and 254 Platinum?
Both are one-step polymer-fortified mortars mixed with water, with the same 80 to 95 and 60 to 70 sq ft figures per 50 lb bag for the two common notches. 254 Platinum also meets ANSI A118.15 and is rated for submerged work such as pools and fountains. DS-296 says 253 Gold is not for submerged applications and points you to 254 Platinum for those. 253 Gold has a longer open time on paper, 60 minutes against 40.
Can I use 253 Gold over plywood?
Yes, indoors only, over exterior glue plywood built to LATICRETE's minimum: a 5/8 inch plywood subfloor over joists at 16 inches on center plus a 5/8 inch plywood underlayment, with deflection no more than L/360 for ceramic tile or L/480 for stone. It is not for use directly over particle board, luan, Masonite or hardwood floors.
LATICRETE and LATICRETE 253 Gold are trademarks of their owner. This page is an independent estimate based on the published data sheet; check the bag label before mixing.