Concrete & masonry tools and supplies
Tools and supplies that match the calculators on this site. These are the kinds of tools each job needs, not products we have lab-tested; links go to Amazon search results so you can compare brands.
Measuring & layout
Accurate forms and lines save more concrete than any waste allowance.
- 25 ft tape measureBudget price
For measuring forms, holes and walls. A stiff blade that stands out 8 ft or more makes measuring a slab alone much easier.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mason’s line and line blocksBudget price
Bright braided line stretched between line blocks keeps each course of block or brick straight and level, and marks out slab edges.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 4 ft levelMid-range price
Checks forms for level and slope, and plumbs block, brick and posts. A 4 ft level bridges small bumps that fool a short one.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Post levelBudget price
Straps to a post or tube form and reads plumb in both directions at once, so you can set it while the concrete is still soft.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Mixing & placing concrete
Mix a bag or two in a tub, or rent a drum mixer once the count gets past a few dozen bags.
- Mortar and concrete mixing tubBudget price
A wide, shallow tub for one or two bags at a time — easier to clean and to pull a hoe through than a wheelbarrow.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mortar hoeBudget price
The holes in the blade pull water through dry mix, so bagged concrete and mortar mix evenly without dry pockets.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Portable electric concrete mixerPremium price
A small drum mixer turns a long day of hand-mixing into batches of two or three 80 lb bags. Check the drum size against the bag count you need.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Drill mixing paddleBudget price
Mixes mortar, self-leveler, stucco and grout in a bucket. Use a low-speed, high-torque drill so the mix doesn’t fly.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Contractor wheelbarrowMid-range price
A 6 cu ft steel or poly tray with a pneumatic tire moves concrete from the mixer to the forms. Never load it to the brim with wet concrete.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Square-point shovelBudget price
Pushes and places concrete, and loads sand and gravel. The flat blade spreads a pour better than a round-point shovel.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Finishing slabs
Screed, float, edge and groove, then broom or trowel — in that order.
- Aluminum screedMid-range price
A straight, light screed strikes off the concrete level with the forms. A straight 2×4 works too if it really is straight.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Bull float with handleMid-range price
Smooths and levels a slab you can’t reach across, right after screeding. Rent or buy one for anything wider than about 6 ft.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Magnesium hand floatBudget price
Closes the surface and pushes stones down after screeding, and prepares the slab for a broom or trowel finish.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Concrete edger and groover setBudget price
The edger rounds slab edges so they don’t chip; the groover cuts control joints while the concrete is still soft.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Steel finishing trowelBudget price
For a smooth, dense finish on slabs, steps and countertops, and for stucco finish coats.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Concrete finishing broomMid-range price
Drags a non-slip texture into a walkway or patio once the surface has stiffened.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Concrete knee boardsMid-range price
Spread your weight so you can kneel on a slab that is firm but not yet hard, to reach the middle with a float or trowel.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Forms, base & reinforcement
- Steel form stakesMid-range price
Round steel stakes with nail holes hold slab and curb forms in line. Easier to drive and pull than wooden ones.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cardboard concrete tube formBudget price
Round fiber tubes form piers, columns and footings above or below grade. Sold in common diameters; cut to length with a handsaw.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Hand tamperBudget price
Compacts gravel base in small areas and post holes. For a full slab base, rent a plate compactor.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Poly vapor barrier sheetingBudget price
Plastic sheeting under an indoor slab, and over a fresh slab to hold moisture in while it cures.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Rebar tie wire and twisterBudget price
Ties bars together where they cross so the grid stays put while you pour.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Rebar chairsBudget price
Hold rebar or mesh off the ground so it ends up inside the concrete, not under it. Match the chair height to where your plans place the steel.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Rebar cutter and benderMid-range price
Cuts and bends #3–#5 bar by hand. For a few cuts, a grinder or reciprocating saw with the right blade also works.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Post hole diggerMid-range price
Digs neat, straight-sided holes. For more than a dozen holes, rent a powered auger and use this to clean them out.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Block, brick & stucco
The same few hand tools lay block, brick and stone, and apply stucco.
- Brick trowelBudget price
Spreads and furrows the mortar bed and butters the ends of each block or brick. A 10–11 in trowel suits most hands.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mortar jointerBudget price
Tools mortar joints to a concave finish once they are thumbprint-hard, which compacts them and sheds water.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mortar hawkBudget price
A flat board with a handle underneath that holds a load of mortar or stucco next to the work.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Brick set chisel and hammerBudget price
Scores and splits brick and block for half-units and cuts. For many cuts, a masonry saw used wet is faster and keeps dust down.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Self-furred metal lathMid-range price
Gives stucco and stone veneer scratch coats something to grip over sheathing. Follow the maker’s fastener spacing.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Steel fire pit ringMid-range price
A heavy steel liner set inside a block fire pit keeps direct flame off the wall units.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Masonry construction adhesiveBudget price
Locks the top course or caps of a dry-stacked fire pit or garden wall. Not a substitute for mortar where a wall needs it.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Sealing, resurfacing & curing
- Acrylic concrete cure and sealMid-range price
Rolled or sprayed onto fresh concrete, it holds moisture in while the slab cures and leaves a light sealed finish.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Penetrating concrete sealer (silane/siloxane)Mid-range price
Soaks in rather than forming a film, so it doesn’t change the look or make a walk slippery. Coverage varies a lot with how porous the concrete is.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Pump sprayerBudget price
Applies cure-and-seal and penetrating sealers evenly. Check the sealer label for a solvent-resistant sprayer if needed.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Gauge rakeMid-range price
Spreads self-leveling underlayment to a set depth so it can flow out flat.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Spiked shoesBudget price
Strap-on spikes let you walk on wet self-leveler to spread and smooth it without leaving footprints.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Countertops
- Concrete countertop mixMid-range price
A fine, high-strength mix made for thin, flat pieces with crisp edges. Check its yield on the bag.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Concrete countertop sealerMid-range price
Protects a countertop from stains and acids. Read the label for food-contact use and recoat timing.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Safety
Wet cement is caustic and cutting concrete makes silica dust. Gloves, eye protection and wet cutting matter more than any tool on this page.
- Nitrile-coated work glovesBudget price
Wet concrete and mortar are caustic. Keep the cement off your skin with waterproof gloves, and wash off any that gets in.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Safety glassesBudget price
Splashes of wet concrete and chips from cutting block both go for the eyes.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Rubber work bootsMid-range price
For standing in wet concrete. Tuck trousers in or tape them so concrete can’t run down inside the boot.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Half-face respirator with P100 filtersMid-range price
For dusty work such as dumping dry mix. It doesn’t replace wet cutting or a vacuum-equipped saw when you cut concrete or block.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.