Caulk calculator: tubes and feet per tube
Enter the length of joint and the bead size. A tube’s yield falls fast as the bead gets wider: double the bead and one tube goes a quarter as far.
Enter your measurements
More options: Extra (left in the tube and nozzle, tooling)
- One tube runs
- 30.9 ft
- Tubes, before rounding up
- 1.07
- Caulk needed
- 10.8 fl oz
Bead: π × (0.25 in ÷ 2)² · one 10.1 fl oz tube ÷ bead = 30.9 ft per tube
30 ft × 1.1 extra ÷ 30.9 ft = 1.07 → 2 tubes
- Yield is for a round bead of the size chosen, the way DAP rates its caulk (55 ft from a 10.1 oz tube at 3/16 in). A tooled bead pressed into a corner uses about the same.
Quick answers for common sizes
| Example | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many feet of caulk in a tube | 30.9 ft at a 1/4 in bead (55 ft at 3/16 in) |
| How many tubes of caulk for a bathtub | 1 tube (0.36 of a 10.1 oz tube) |
| How many tubes of caulk per window | 0.57 of a tube: about 2 windows per tube |
How far one tube goes, by bead size
| Bead | One tube runs | Tubes to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 in | 124 ft | 1 tube |
| 3/16 in | 55 ft | 1 tube |
| 1/4 in | 30.9 ft | 2 tubes |
| 3/8 in | 13.8 ft | 3 tubes |
| 1/2 in | 7.74 ft | 5 tubes |
Caulk is sold by volume and used by length, so the bead size sets everything. A bead is roughly a cylinder: its cross-section is π × (diameter ÷ 2)². New to this? Paint words explained.
How many feet of caulk in a tube
feet per tube = tube volume ÷ (π × (bead ÷ 2)²) 10.1 fl oz = 18.2 cu in · 300 ml = 300 cm³ tubes = joint length × (1 + extra) ÷ feet per tube
DAP rates its 10.1 fl oz Alex Plus cartridge at 55 linear feet with a 3/16 in bead, and the 5.5 fl oz size at 30 ft. The cylinder formula gives the same: 18.2 cu in ÷ 0.0276 sq in = 660 in, or 55 ft. Every other size in the table below comes from the same formula.
| Bead | 10.1 fl oz tube | 5.5 fl oz tube |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 in | about 124 ft | about 67 ft |
| 3/16 in | about 55 ft (DAP’s figure) | about 30 ft (DAP’s figure) |
| 1/4 in | about 31 ft | about 17 ft |
| 3/8 in | about 14 ft | about 7.5 ft |
| 1/2 in | about 7.7 ft | about 4.2 ft |
Worked examples
- How many feet of caulk in a tube: the yield chart for every bead size.
- How many tubes of caulk for a bathtub: a 5 ft tub against three walls.
- How many tubes of caulk per window: the outside perimeter of a 3 × 5 ft window, and ten of them.
Tips
- Cut the nozzle small; you can always cut it bigger. Most trim and baseboard gaps want 1/8–3/16 in.
- Wide or deep gaps: push in foam backer rod first so the caulk bridges the gap instead of filling it.
- Paintable acrylic caulk for trim; 100% silicone or a kitchen-and-bath sealant for tubs and sinks, and silicone generally can’t be painted.
- Wait the time on the tube before painting: DAP’s Alex Plus says at least 30 minutes, longer when it is cool or humid.
What you’ll need
- Dripless caulk gunBudget price
A smooth-rod, dripless gun stops pushing when you stop squeezing, which is most of what makes a neat bead.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Paintable acrylic latex caulkBudget price
For trim gaps and baseboard joints before painting. Check the tube for its paint-ready time.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Caulk finishing toolBudget price
Shapes a consistent bead and lifts the excess cleanly, especially in tub and shower corners.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Painter’s tape (multi-surface)Budget price
Masks trim, ceilings and glass. Pull it at an angle while the last coat is still slightly soft for the cleanest line.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How many linear feet does a tube of caulk cover?
A 10.1 fl oz tube runs about 55 ft at a 3/16 in bead (DAP’s figure), 31 ft at 1/4 in and 14 ft at 3/8 in. See how many feet of caulk in a tube.
How many tubes of caulk for a bathtub?
One. A 5 ft tub along three walls is about 10 ft of joint, a third of a tube at a 1/4 in bead. See how many tubes of caulk for a bathtub.
How many tubes of caulk per window?
About half a tube for the outside perimeter of a 3 × 5 ft window at 1/4 in; a tube does two windows. See how many tubes of caulk per window.
Why did I use more caulk than the calculator says?
Gaps are rarely uniform. A joint that is 1/4 in wide in places and 3/8 in elsewhere uses twice the caulk in the wide parts. Use the widest common gap for the bead size.
Sources
- DAP, Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone, technical data sheet (5/12/25) (opens in a new tab) — 10.1 fl oz: 55 linear ft at a 3/16 in diameter bead; 5.5 fl oz: 30 ft; joints no wider than 1/2 in × 1/2 in deep without backer rod.