| Primary value | 0.092 bags / sqm (12 mm thick · 1:6 cement-sand mortar) |
| Applies to | Internal cement-sand plaster (single coat) · External plaster (rough finish, single coat) · Tender estimation per square metre of plastered area |
| Exceptions | 12 mm @ 1:4 (rich mix, external) → 0.140 bags / sqm |
| 12 mm @ 1:6 (standard internal) → 0.092 bags / sqm | |
| 20 mm @ 1:4 (external 2-coat) → 0.230 bags / sqm | |
| Ceiling plaster 6 mm @ 1:3 → 0.094 bags / sqm | |
| Wastage allowance → +15% on cement, +20% on sand | |
| Measured as | Mass of cement (50 kg per bag) per square metre of plastered surface area. Excludes openings (doors, windows) when measuring net area. |
| Source | IS 1661 / IS 2402 — Plastering coverage tables 📚 Cross-referenced |
8 related items across IS codes, knowledge articles, design rules, maps and tools
Plaster is one of the highest-volume cement consumers on a finishing site — typical apartment uses 250–300 sqm of plaster per dwelling, drawing ~30 bags before openings. 0.092 bags/sqm for the 12 mm 1:6 standard is the number every BoQ uses; thicker external coats (20 mm 1:4) push that to 0.23 bags/sqm and double the budget per sqm.
Estimators add 15% wastage to cement and 20% to sand to cover spillage, drop and partial bags. Sites that use mechanical plastering (sprayed mix) cut cement consumption by ~5% and sand by ~10% versus traditional hand-throwing.