Skip to content
CalcTheJob

Caulk Calculator: Bead Length and Cartridges

Find how many 10.1 fl oz cartridges you need from bead length, width and depth. A 10.1 ounce tube holds about 18.23 cubic inches of caulk.

ft
in

Default ¼ in is a common tooled joint. A 3/16 in bead is also common.

in

Rectangular (tooled) section. Default ¼ in.

fl oz

Default 10.1 fl oz. Volume is 10.1 × 1.8046875 = 18.23 cu in.

Your estimate

Cartridges to buy

3tubes

2.06 tubes exact · 24.3 ft per tube at this bead · net bead volume, no tip-loss allowance

Bead volume

37.5 cu in

Cartridge volume

18.23 cu in

Quantity uses a rectangular tooled section: width × depth × length. A 10.1 fl oz tube is 18.23 cu in (U.S. fluid ounce = 1.8046875 cu in). The DAP Alex Plus TDS lists 55 linear feet for a 3/16 in bead from a 10.1 oz tube, which matches a round 3/16 in bead and is a manufacturer check, not this page’s ¼ × ¼ in default. The count is net bead volume only; buy a spare tube for tip loss, tooling and gun residue.

Estimates only — confirm with your supplier and local code. First published · Last reviewed by CalcTheJob.

How to use the caulk calculator

  1. Enter the total bead length in feet.
  2. Enter the tooled bead width and depth. The default is a ¼ × ¼ inch rectangular joint.
  3. Enter the cartridge size if it is not 10.1 fl oz.

Baseboard and crown length stay on the baseboard calculator. Paint gallons stay on the paint calculator.

Bead volume and cartridge volume

Bead volume (cu in) = length (ft) × 12 × width (in) × depth (in). A U.S. fluid ounce is 1.8046875 cu in, so a 10.1 fl oz tube is 18.23 cu in. Tubes = bead volume ÷ cartridge volume, rounded up. The DAP Alex Plus TDS lists 55 linear feet for a 3/16 in bead from a 10.1 oz tube, which matches a round 3/16 in bead and is a manufacturer check, not this page’s ¼ × ¼ in default (about 24.3 ft per tube).

A worked example: 50 ft of ¼-inch bead

A 50 ft bead, ¼ × ¼ in, is 37.5 cu in. A 10.1 fl oz tube is 18.23 cu in, so you need 2.06 tubes and should buy 3 cartridges. Each tube covers about 24.3 ft at that bead.

Sources & assumptions

How this calculator gets its numbers. Full method: our methodology.

  • Bead volume uses a rectangular tooled section: length (ft) × 12 × width (in) × depth (in). Cartridge volume = fluid ounces × 1.8046875 cu in (231 ÷ 128). A 10.1 fl oz tube is 18.23 cu in. Tube count rounds up and is net bead volume only, with no tip-loss or tooling allowance.
  • Default ¼ × ¼ in bead is a CalcTheJob starting point for a tooled joint (about 24.3 ft per 10.1 oz tube).
  • The DAP Alex Plus TDS lists 55 linear feet for a 3/16 in bead from a 10.1 oz tube, which matches a round 3/16 in bead and is shown as a manufacturer check, not the page default.

Sources

  1. NIST, Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C — General Tables of Units of Measurement. 1 U.S. gallon = 231 cubic inches = 128 fluid ounces, so 1 fl oz = 231 ÷ 128 = 1.8046875 cubic inches (table value 1.804 7).
  2. DAP, Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk — Technical Data Sheet. Lists 55 linear feet of coverage from a 10.1 fl oz cartridge with a 3/16 in bead, used as a manufacturer check against the volume math.

Last reviewed . The coverage on the cartridge you buy, and the joint you actually tool, win.

Frequently asked questions

How many tubes of caulk for 50 feet of ¼-inch bead?

At a ¼ × ¼ in tooled joint, 2.06 tubes from 10.1 fl oz cartridges, so buy 3. Each tube covers about 24.3 feet.

Why does DAP list 55 linear feet?

The Alex Plus TDS figure of 55 ft is for a 3/16 in bead and matches a round 3/16 in section. This page’s default is a rectangular ¼ × ¼ in joint, which yields about 24.3 ft per tube.

Can I change the cartridge size?

Yes. Volume is always fluid ounces × 1.8046875 cubic inches.

Does this include paint or baseboard?

No. Those stay on the paint and baseboard calculators.

Related calculators