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The most complete IS 10262:2019 mix design resource — grade calculators from M10 to M60, IS 456 compliance, cost optimisation, ACI/EN 206 methods, cheat sheets and worked examples. Trusted by engineers across India.

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IS 10262:2019 Mix Design Calculator

Absolute volume method · IS 456:2000 compliance · OPC/PPC · With or without SP

Concrete Grade

Cement Type

Exposure Class

Max Agg. Size (MSA)

Target Slump

SP Water Reduction

Fly Ash (% of OPC)

Agg. Type

✅ M25 Mix Design Result — IS 10262:2019
TMS (fcr)—MPa
Adopted w/c—
Water—L/m³
Cement—kg/m³
Fly Ash SCM—kg/m³
Fine Agg.—kg/m³
Coarse Agg.—kg/m³
Unit Weight—kg/m³
Need the full calculation with every step shown? This quick calculator gives you IS 10262 results instantly. For the complete 9-step procedure with all arithmetic, IS 456 compliance checks, moisture correction and trial mix guidance, visit the full IS 10262 calculator or the step-by-step guide.

How MixDesignCalc Works
From raw inputs to a fully compliant IS 10262 mix design in four steps
1
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Select Your Grade & Conditions
Choose the concrete grade (M10–M60), cement type, exposure class, aggregate size and target slump from IS 456 requirements.
2
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IS 10262 Calculation Runs
The calculator applies all 9 IS 10262:2019 steps: TMS, w/c selection, water content, cement, aggregate proportioning and absolute volume balance.
3
✅
IS 456 Compliance Verified
Every result is automatically checked against IS 456:2000 Table 5 — maximum w/c, minimum cement, maximum cement (450 kg/m³), and cover requirements.
4
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Optimise for Cost & Carbon
See the cost per m³ at 2026 India prices, SP ROI, carbon footprint (ICE v3.0), and recommendations to reduce cement without losing compliance.

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550M+
Tonnes of concrete produced in India annually
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0.890
kg CO₂ per kg OPC 53 cement (ICE v3.0)
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₹342
Saved per m³ with PCE SP 20% WR on M30 Severe
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20%
Typical water reduction achievable with PCE SP
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38.25
MPa — Target Mean Strength for M30 (IS 10262)

India’s Most Complete Concrete Mix Design Reference

MixDesignCalc was built by civil engineers for civil engineers. Every calculator implements the exact IS 10262:2019 procedure — not an approximation — with full IS 456:2000 compliance verification built in.

We cover everything from the M20 nominal mix (1:1.5:3) a site supervisor needs, to the IS 10262 Annex C empirical design an HSC specialist requires for M60 columns in a high-rise core wall.

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Exact IS 10262:2019 — All 9 Steps
TMS, w/c selection, Table 2 water, cement content, SCM effective w/c, Table 3 aggregate, absolute volume balance, moisture correction.
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IS 456 Compliance on Every Result
Max w/c, min/max cement, exposure class grade minimum — every IS 456 Table 5 check shown with pass/fail status.
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7 International Standards
IS 10262, ACI 211.1, DOE/BRE, EN 206/BS 8500, IRC:112, IS 1343 (PSC), AS 1379 — all covered with side-by-side comparisons.
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Cost & Carbon Optimisation
2026 India material prices, ICE v3.0 CO₂ factors, SP ROI analysis, SCM substitution economics — every optimisation quantified.
M10
to M60
All grades covered
IS 456
Table 5
Auto compliance
9 Steps
IS 10262
Complete procedure
Free
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📋 Quick IS 10262 Formula Reference
fcr = fck + 1.65 × S
w/c (OPC 53) = (102 − fcr) / 116
C = W ÷ w/c
CA = jc × DRBD
V_FA = 1.000 − V_C − V_W − V_CA − 0.015

Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about concrete mix design, IS 10262:2019 and our calculators
What is IS 10262:2019 and why is it important?▼
IS 10262:2019 is the Bureau of Indian Standards guideline for concrete mix proportioning — it is the official Indian standard that tells engineers exactly how to calculate the quantities of cement, water, sand and stone for any concrete grade. It is the 5th revision (latest as of 2026) and is used for all structural concrete in India from M10 to M55 (with IS 10262 Annex C extending to M60+). Every IS 10262 calculator on this site implements the exact 9-step procedure defined in the standard, including IS 456:2000 Table 5 compliance checks.
What is the difference between M20, M25 and M30 concrete?▼
The number in the grade (20, 25, 30) is the characteristic compressive strength in MPa of a 150mm concrete cube at 28 days. M20 = 20 MPa (minimum for reinforced concrete, Mild exposure), M25 = 25 MPa (standard for Moderate exposure — most outdoor structural work), M30 = 30 MPa (required for Severe exposure — water contact, aggressive environments). Each step up tightens the IS 456 requirements: max w/c reduces (0.55→0.50→0.45) and minimum cement content increases (300→300→320 kg/m³). Above M25, IS 10262 design mix is mandatory — nominal ratios like 1:1.5:3 are only valid to M25.
What does the 1:1.5:3 ratio for M20 mean?▼
The M20 nominal mix ratio 1:1.5:3 means: 1 part cement : 1.5 parts fine aggregate (sand) : 3 parts coarse aggregate (stone chips) — all measured by volume, not by mass. This is specified in IS 456:2000 Table 9. For a 50 kg bag of cement: use approximately 75 kg sand, 150 kg stone and maximum 27.5 litres of water (max w/c = 0.55). One bag produces roughly 0.13 m³ of concrete, so you need approximately 7–8 bags per cubic metre. Note: this ratio applies only for Mild exposure. Outdoor elements require M25 (Moderate exposure) at minimum.
Is superplasticiser (SP) mandatory for M40 concrete?▼
Yes — SP is a code compliance requirement for M40 at Extreme exposure. Without SP: water = 186 L/m³ (IS 10262 Table 2), w/c = 0.40 (IS 456 Extreme max), cement = 186/0.40 = 465 kg/m³ — which exceeds IS 456 Clause 8.2.4.2 maximum of 450 kg/m³. With PCE SP at 20% water reduction: water = 149 L/m³, cement = 149/0.40 = 373 kg/m³ — compliant. This is also why SP is strongly recommended (though not absolutely mandatory) for M30 Severe — without SP, M30 cement = 413 kg/m³ which is technically compliant but uneconomical and approaching the 450 limit.
How accurate are the MixDesignCalc calculators?▼
Every calculator implements the exact IS 10262:2019 procedure — not an approximation. The water content uses IS 10262 Table 2 values exactly; the w/c uses the linearised IS 10262 Figure 1 equations (e.g. OPC 53: w/c = (102−fcr)/116); the CA uses jc × DRBD from Table 3; and the FA sand is the absolute volume balance. IS 456 compliance is checked against Table 5. However, all calculated mix designs are starting points that must be verified by IS 10262 Clause 9 trial mixes using the actual materials to be used in production — actual material properties, aggregate gradation and cement chemistry will affect the final design.
What is the target mean strength (TMS) and why is it different from fck?▼
The characteristic strength fck (e.g. M30 = 30 MPa) is the strength below which only 5% of test cubes are allowed to fall. Because concrete production has natural variability, you cannot design the mix to average exactly 30 MPa — some cubes will be below the average, and you need fewer than 5% below 30. So you design to a higher Target Mean Strength: fcr = fck + 1.65 × σ, where σ is the standard deviation from IS 10262 Table 1. For M30: fcr = 30 + 1.65×5.0 = 38.25 MPa. This is why M30 concrete routinely tests at 38–45 MPa average in production — the design target is higher than the specification grade.
What is the effective w/c ratio and how does fly ash affect it?▼
When supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash, GGBS or silica fume are added to a mix, IS 10262 Clause 5.7 requires calculating an effective w/c ratio: (w/c)_eff = W ÷ (OPC + k_FA×FA + k_GGBS×GGBS + k_SF×SF). The k-factors are: fly ash k=0.25, GGBS k=0.60, silica fume k=2.50. This effective w/c must remain below the IS 456 Table 5 limit. Adding 25% fly ash to a M25 Moderate mix: eff. w/c = 186 ÷ (372 + 0.25×93) = 0.471 vs IS 456 limit 0.50 — improved durability at nearly no cost increase (fly ash ≈ ₹800/t vs OPC 53 ≈ ₹5,500/t).
How do I use the IS 10262 calculator for a mix with silica fume?▼
Use the M50 or M55 grade calculator which includes silica fume inputs. The calculator: (1) adds the SF water demand (+2 L/m³ per 1% SF of OPC), (2) applies PCE SP reduction, (3) calculates effective w/c = W ÷ (OPC + 2.50×SF + k_FA×FA), (4) includes SF volume (SG=2.20) in the absolute volume balance, and (5) checks that effective w/c ≤ IS 456 limit. For grades below M45, silica fume is optional — use the standard grade calculators. For M55 and above, silica fume is practically mandatory to achieve the target strength within IS 456’s 450 kg/m³ OPC limit.
Are the calculators and guides free? Do I need to register?▼
All calculators, guides, charts and cheat sheets on MixDesignCalc are completely free — no registration, no account, no subscription. We believe fundamental engineering reference data should be freely accessible to every engineer, student and contractor. You can bookmark individual calculator pages, share URLs with colleagues, or download the cheat sheet pages for offline use. The only request is that you verify all calculated results with IS 10262 Clause 9 trial mixes before using them in structural production.
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