Updated July 15, 2024
Two-part adhesives, such as epoxy adhesives and methacrylate adhesives, are commonly sold in cartridges containing A and B parts that will not cure until the two parts are mixed together. Often static mixing nozzles are used for application to ensure you get the right ratio and minimize the amount of wasted product.
While application can be simple with the right tools, the challenge can come with knowing how to calculate how much epoxy you will need for a certain job. To help, we've put together an epoxy calculator with some basic formulas so you can better estimate how many epoxy cartridges your application will require and when it is time to order more.
How to Calculate Epoxy Needed for Product Assembly
If you are in product assembly, an accurate epoxy calculation can help ensure you stay on track and save money. Too much epoxy and it could go to waste. Not enough and production could stall. Either way, it could cost your business.
To avoid these issues, our epoxy coverage calculator may be able to help. But before you can start calculating, you need to know the following first:
- Your bead diameter
- Your bead length per unit
The charts below are based on cartridge size and may be able to help.
| IMPERIAL | Cartridge Size | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bead Diameter | 40 ml | 50 ml | 200 ml | 375 ml | 400 ml | 485 ml | 600 ml |
| 1/8" | 17 ft | 21 ft | 83 ft | 155 ft | 166 ft | 201 ft | 249 ft |
| 3/16" | 7.4 ft | 9.2 ft | 37 ft | 69 ft | 74 ft | 89 ft | 111 ft |
| 1/4" | 4.1 ft | 5.2 ft | 21 ft | 39 ft | 41 ft | 50 ft | 62 ft |
| 5/16" | 2.7 ft | 3.3 ft | 13 ft | 25 ft | 27 ft | 32 ft | 40 ft |
| 3/8" | 1.8 ft | 2.3 ft | 9 ft | 17 ft | 18 ft | 22 ft | 28 ft |
| 1/2" | 1.0 ft | 1.3 ft | 5.2 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 13 ft | 16 ft |
| METRIC | Cartridge Size | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bead Diameter | 40 ml | 50 ml | 200 ml | 375 ml | 400 ml | 485 ml | 600 ml |
| 0.3 cm | 5 m | 6.3 m | 25.2 m | 47.2 m | 50.4 m | 61.1 m | 75.6 m |
| 0.48 cm | 2.2 m | 2.8 m | 11.2 m | 21 m | 22.4 m | 27.7 m | 33.6 m |
| 0.6 cm | 1.3 m | 1.6 m | 6.3 m | 11.8 m | 12.6 m | 15.3 m | 18.7 m |
| 0.8 cm | 0.8 m | 1 m | 4 m | 7.6 m | 8.1 m | 9.8 m | 12.1 m |
| 0.95 cm | 0.6 m | 0.7 m | 2.8 m | 5.2 m | 5.6 m | 6.8 m | 8.4 m |
| 1.3 cm | 0.3 m | 0.4 m | 1.6 m | 3 m | 3.1 m | 3.8 m | 4.7 m |
*Please note that these figures are approximate and should only be used for estimates.
Calculating the Number of Units Per Epoxy Cartridge
If you're in product assembly, it can be helpful to estimate how many units will be covered by each epoxy cartridge. Once you have your bead diameter and length, you can calculate this number with the following epoxy coverage formula:
Bead Length Per Cartridge / Bead Length Per Unit = Number of Units Per Cartridge
Example:
41 ft / 2 ft = 20.5 units per cartridge
Using a 1/4" bead, 2 ft per unit, and 400ml cartridges, our epoxy amount calculator suggests that you can cover about 20 and a half units per cartridge.
Calculating the Number of Epoxy Cartridges Based on Number of Units
You may want to take your epoxy coverage calculation one step further. If you're getting ready to place an order for more cartridges, you may need to calculate the number of cartridges required to produce a certain number of units.
Using the chart above once more, you can plug your numbers into the following formula:
(Bead Length Per Unit * Number of Units) / Bead Length Per Cartridge = Number of Cartridges Required
Example:
(2 ft * 2,000 units) / 41 ft = 97.56 cartridges required
Using the same numbers as before (1/4" bead, 2 ft per unit, & 400 ml cartridges), our epoxy calculator suggests that you need about 98 cartridges to cover 2,000 units.
Need More Help?
Of course, these are all estimations, and the measurements are not exact. Some epoxy may get left behind in the cartridges or equipment, a small amount may need to be disposed of before beginning your application, and drips happen. These can all impact the accuracy of these calculations, so you may need a little more to be safe. Over time, you should also be able to narrow down these numbers based on your past experience.
If you need more assistance determining how much epoxy you need or even which epoxy to use, our team is here to help. We have tested hundreds of epoxy products and applications. Don't hesitate to contact us for advice.
