Self-leveling compound: average depth vs. the minimum over the high point
The pour is flat on top, but the subfloor underneath isn’t — so the actual depth varies. A 1/8″ minimum over the high point typically works out to an average of 1/4″ or more across the whole floor. This calculator wants the average.
What this diagram shows
A cross-section of an uneven plywood subfloor with a low point and a high point, coated with a thin primer line that follows its surface, and a self-leveling compound poured over it to a flat top. A dimension at the high point shows the rated minimum depth there, about 1/8 inch. A separate dashed reference line across a representative average subfloor height shows the average depth poured across the whole floor is greater, roughly 1/4 inch or more — illustrating why the calculator asks for the average depth, not just the gap at the low point.
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Floor Leveling Compound Calculator
How many bags of self-leveling compound do you need? Bags & primer by product, depth & substrate — from manufacturer data sheets. Free, no signup.
