Masonry Wall Weight Calculator
Quick reference table and calculator for CMU wall weights (PSF). Pick a reference source, then select block size, density, and grout spacing to get wall weight.
Reference Table
CMACN - Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures (2015)
Average weight of a completed wall. Bond beams and reinforcing steel are already included.
| Grout Spacing | Lightweight (103 pcf) | Medium Weight (115 pcf) | Normal Weight (135 pcf) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 48 | 61 | 78 | 94 |
| 32" o.c. | 36 | 52 | 57 | 74 | 42 | 55 | 68 | 80 | 47 | 58 | 74 | 89 |
| 40" o.c. | 35 | 50 | 55 | 71 | 41 | 53 | 66 | 77 | 46 | 56 | 72 | 86 |
| 48" o.c. | 34 | 49 | 53 | 69 | 40 | 51 | 64 | 75 | 45 | 55 | 70 | 83 |
• Values excerpted from CMACN, Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures (2015), “Average Weight of Completed Wall.”
• Grout at 140 pcf. Per the source footnote, an average allowance for bond beams and reinforcing steel is already included in every value.
• CMACN publishes no ungrouted row, so none is shown here. Switch to TEK 14-13B for ungrouted walls.
Source documents:Table excerpt (Angelus Block)CMACN publication
Which source should I use?
None of these tables are wrong; they tabulate different things. All three assume ASTM C90 minimum face shell and web thicknesses with grout at 140 pcf, but not the same edition of C90. That matters more than it sounds.
- CMACN 2015 gives the weight of a completed reinforced wall. Its footnote states that an average allowance for bond beams and reinforcing steel has already been added, which is why its partially grouted values run roughly 3–10 PSF heavier than TEK. Use it for a quick, slightly conservative dead load on a typical reinforced wall. Lightweight units are taken at 103 pcf.
- NCMA TEK 14-13B gives units, mortar and vertical grout only. Use it when you want to model your actual bond beam layout instead of an average, or when you need an ungrouted wall. Lightweight units are the 105 pcf column. CMHA has withdrawn it, but it is the last source to tabulate all four widths directly.
- CMHA CMU-TEC-002-23 is the current document, and replaced both TEK 14-13B and TEK 14-01B. Same basis as TEK, but built on ASTM C90-21. The 2011 revision to C90 cut the minimum web thickness to 0.75" for every width, down from the 1" (6 and 8" units) and 1.125" (10" and larger) that C90-06 required; face shell minimums did not change. That is why this table runs lighter than TEK, most visibly at 10 and 12". Use it when you want today’s reference. Note that CMHA publishes 8" walls only; the other three widths are computed here and marked with an asterisk.
Because CMACN already carries a bond beam allowance, the bond beam input is disabled on that source - adding one on top would double count it.
Custom Calculator
Using CMACN 2015
CMACN values already include an average bond beam and reinforcing steel allowance. Switch to NCMA TEK 14-13B to model your own bond beam spacing.
Enter veneer weight in PSF to add to calculation
Notes
- • Normal weight CMU: 135 pcf
- • Medium weight CMU: 115 pcf
- • Lightweight CMU: 103 pcf
- • Grout: 140 pcf
- • Does not include additional dead loads such as finishes (unless veneer is specified)
Bond Beam Calculation Method
Not applicable on CMACN 2015 - bond beams and reinforcing steel are already averaged into the tabulated values. Switch the reference source to NCMA TEK 14-13B to model a specific bond beam spacing.