CONCRETE RATIO TOOLS
Nominal concrete mix calculator: M10, M15 and M20
Explore IS 456 Table 9 dry-aggregate allowances and water ceilings per 50 kg cement, with a clear distinction from designed concrete mixes.
Nominal proportioning basis
Dry-mass split. General starting split 1:2; Table 9 range 1:1.5 to 1:2.5 depends on grading and aggregate size.
M25 and above require a designed-mix process. This tool shows Table 9 limits before moisture and durability checks.
M15 · IS 456 TABLE 9 LIMITS
Table water ceiling for 50 kg cement. This is an upper limit, not an instruction to add this amount. Durability or the project specification may require a lower ratio. Account for aggregate moisture before batching.
| Material | Your batch · kg |
|---|---|
| Cement basis | 50 |
| Fine aggregate at the total-aggregate limit · dry | 110 |
| Coarse aggregate at the total-aggregate limit · dry | 220 |
Fine = 330 / (1 + 2) = 110 kgCoarse = 330 − 110 = 220 kg
These dry quantities and water ceilings do not determine concrete yield or certify strength. A 1 m³ output is deliberately not inferred from them.
Open the scientific mix design calculator →Reading the nominal-mix result
For each 50 kg of cement, the referenced table limits total dry aggregate to 480 kg for M10, 330 kg for M15 and 250 kg for M20. Corresponding water ceilings are 34, 32 and 30 litres. The aggregate figures are total fine plus coarse mass, not separate allowances for each.
For M15 with a 1:2 fine/coarse split, the 330 kg allowance divides into 110 kg of dry fine aggregate and 220 kg of dry coarse aggregate. Scaling the bag count multiplies those quantities, but cannot establish fresh concrete volume.
When to use a designed mix
Clause 9.3 limits nominal-mix use to M20 or lower. Applicable durability, material, moisture and project requirements still need checking. Higher grades use mix design. The familiar bucket ratios found online should not be confused with this table’s mass basis.
Source: BIS-authored IS 456:2000, clause 9.3 and Table 9, printed page 23 / PDF page 36, third-party source copy. Verify the applicable edition and amendments through BIS.