Caulk / Sealant Cartridge Yield from Joint Size
How many linear feet a sealant cartridge does for a joint size, and the cartridges for a run.
Example
You enter
- Joint length (ft) 500
- Cartridge volume (in³, ~20.5 for 10.1 oz) 20.5
- Joint width (in) 0.375
- Joint depth (in) 0.25
You get
- Cross (in²) 0.09375
- Yield per cartridge 18.2 ft
- Cartridges 28
Details, formula, and sources
Length per cartridge = cartridge volume / (width x depth) / 12; cartridges = ceil(joint / length per cartridge). A 10.1 oz cartridge on a 3/8 x 1/4 in joint does 18 ft, so 500 LF takes 28 cartridges; a big 1/2 x 1/2 in joint burns them at more than double the rate (74). The joint cross-section is the lever; the manufacturer's joint design governs.
cross_in2 = joint_width_in x joint_depth_in; lf_per_cart = cartridge_in3 / cross_in2 / 12; cartridges = ceil(joint_lf / lf_per_cart).
Sealant cartridge-yield identity by name (cartridge volume divided by the joint cross-section gives the run per cartridge); first-principles geometry.
The bead-volume geometry is public first-principles; the cartridge volume and joint design come from the manufacturer.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
Field names used by the API: joint_lf, cartridge_in3, joint_width_in, joint_depth_in, cross_in2, lf_per_cart, cartridges
- Joint cross-section width x depth as a rectangle; ~2:1 width-to-depth with a backer rod for elastomeric sealantmanufacturer joint design
- Cartridge volume ~20.5 in^3 for a 10.1 oz cartridge, ~40 in^3 for a 20 oz sausagesealant manufacturer