How to Make Your Own Concrete Blocks: Step-By-Step

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Making your own concrete bricks is easier than you think!
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If you spend much time working with concrete blocks, you might have wondered how hard it would be to just make your own. The process is a little time-consuming and might not save you any money, but it’s not very complicated and can be a really satisfying DIY project. We’re here with everything you need to know about making your own concrete blocks. We also have tips from professional stonemasons and construction experts to help you get the job done right.

How do you make concrete blocks?

Combine 3 parts concrete mix and 1 part water in a wheelbarrow. Scoop the concrete mix into an oiled concrete form. Tamp the concrete down as you add it to remove air bubbles. Carefully remove the form as soon as the block is formed. Let the block sit for 48 hours before moving it, then let it cure for 2 weeks or more.

Section 1 of 6:

Making Concrete Bricks

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  1. Brick mason Gerber Ortiz-Vega says, “The easiest way to mix concrete is to buy bagged concrete mix. Usually, you’ll add 1 part water to every 3 parts concrete mix.” Pour the concrete mix into a wheelbarrow or a large bucket—something that will be easy to scoop from. Make a well in the middle and slowly add the water, then stir everything together until the mix is evenly wet.
    • Measure the water—don’t estimate how much you’re adding. This will ensure every batch of concrete has the same consistency.
    • If you’re not sure how much concrete to mix up, check out our section on how many blocks one bag of cement will produce .
    • If you want to make your concrete from scratch, try a cement-sand-aggregate ratio of 1:3:6. This means you’ll use 1 part concrete, 3 parts sand, and 1 part of an aggregate like gravel or cracked rock. [1]
    • In hot weather, Ortiz-Vega says, “Pour the concrete in the morning, and keep it wet throughout the day.” If you can’t use the concrete mix right away, keep it shaded to prevent it from drying out. [2]
  2. To keep the concrete from sticking to the inside of the mold, spray your block form or wipe it down with oil or concrete form release . If you’re using a mold made of wood, apply the oil the night before if possible. This will allow it to soak into the wood, making it more effective. [3]
    • You probably won’t need to re-apply oil after every block. Just wipe the concrete out of the mold, and only add more oil if it seems like the concrete is sticking to the mold.
    • If you want to create hollow concrete blocks, place PVC pipes in the center of the molds or purchase a hollow brick mold .
    • If you’re not sure what type of mold to use, check out our section on choosing a concrete mold .
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  3. Use a shovel to fill the block form with concrete. After each scoop, use a tamper or the end of a wooden board and tap the concrete down firmly. This will help remove trapped air—bubbles in the concrete will compromise the integrity of your bricks. Keep scooping and tamping the concrete until the mold is filled. [4]
    • Use a trowel or straight edge to scrape any excess concrete off the top of the mold. Make the top as smooth as you can.
    EXPERT TIP

    Tony Hoang

    Landscaping Manager
    Tony Hoang is a Landscaper and the Principal at H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor in Newark, CA. With over six years of experience, he specializes in designing the perfect concrete driveways & backyard patios for homes. H&J Landscaping & Concrete Contractor is a 4.5-star business on Yelp.
    Tony Hoang
    Landscaping Manager

    Tamp concrete while it’s still wet to make it stronger and more durable. Tamping will compress the concrete and smooth out any clumps, gaps, or irregularities. When you’re done, you’ll have a flawless surface that will be resistant to cracking and crumbling.

  4. 4
    Carefully remove the form from the concrete block. As soon as you finish shaping the block, remove it from the form. [5] The concrete won’t be set, so you’ll need to work carefully—if you move too quickly or bump the block with the form, you could damage your brick. The exact way you unmold the concrete will depend on the type of mold you use: [6]
    • If you made a simple wooden mold held together by screws, loosen the screws so you can slide the mold off of the brick.
    • Some forms have handles or a footplate to help you secure the block as you remove the mold.
    • You can also cut a piece of wood or styrofoam to fit just inside the mold. Place it on top of the concrete block, then gently press down on the piece as you slide the form up and off of the block. This will give you leverage, but you won’t have to push directly on the block.
  5. 5
    Cover the blocks with plastic sheets for the first 24 hours. After removing the block from the form, leave the block where it is for at least 48 hours—it might crumble if you try to move it. Put a plastic sheet over the block for the first 24 hours. On the second day, remove the plastic sheeting and sprinkle a little water on the blocks. [7] This will help prevent cracks.
    • After about 48 hours, the bricks will be hardened enough that you can stack them on top of each other.
  6. Even though it will only take a couple of days for the blocks to be strong enough to stack, it will be about 2 weeks before the concrete is cured enough to actually build with it. If you use the blocks sooner than that, the blocks may shrink or crack, and your structure could collapse. [8]
    • Sprinkle water on the bricks every day for the first week.
    • Construction specialist Alberto DeJesus says, “To make sure your concrete cures properly, do your project when it’s at least 50 °F (10 °C) out and not raining.”
    • Once the blocks are cured, store them in a dry area out of direct sunlight.
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Section 2 of 6:

Choosing or Making a Concrete Mold

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  1. To make a simple wood form, cut 4 pieces of wood, then nail, glue, or screw them into a rectangular box. [9] It will be easiest to remove the form if you use screws—place a screw on the top and bottom of each corner, so a total of 8 screws for a simple box. After you mold your block, remove the screws and carefully pull each piece of the form off of the block.
    • If you don’t want to unscrew the form, try cutting a smaller piece of wood, styrofoam, or another sturdy material as a lid. Cut it so it passes smoothly through the mold. After you make a block, place this lid on top of the brick. Press down on the lid to hold the brick in place as you lift the mold to remove it.
    • To make several blocks at once, build a long rectangular box, then add small pieces of wood as dividers, evenly spaced along the box.
    • To create holes in the center of the block, insert PVC pipe into the center of the mold before you add the concrete.
  2. 2
    Buy a concrete form if you don’t want to make one. You can buy concrete block forms in a variety of shapes and sizes. This can be an easier option if you want to make hollow cinderblocks or decorative blocks. Additionally, these forms may come with handles, lids, plates, or other features designed to make it easier to remove the form from the block.
    • Some forms are slightly tapered so they’ll slide off of the block more easily.
    • You can buy rectangular molds to make standard blocks, hollow molds for traditional cinderblocks, or decorative molds for things like pavers.
    • Pre-made concrete molds are often made of wood , plastic , or stainless steel . These molds should be treated with oil or concrete release agent so they’ll slide off the block after molding.
    • Some form kits come with presses you can use to create designs on the surface of the concrete.
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Section 3 of 6:

Projects to Try With DIY Concrete Blocks

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  1. Use homemade concrete blocks for anything except tall walls. Homemade blocks can replace commercial concrete blocks in almost any project. For instance, you might use your blocks to create a raised garden bed, planter, fire pit, garden border, or retaining wall. You could even stack the blocks and add a longboard to create your own table or bench.
    • If you’re building tall walls, it’s safer to purchase pre-made concrete blocks, as they will have gone through a rigorous quality control process. It’s probably more cost-effective than making your own blocks, too.
    • If you’d like to paint your finished concrete, painting specialist Andrew Kazimierski recommends starting with a coat of masonry primer, then finishing with a top coat. He says, “Be sure to let the concrete cure for about 30 days before painting it.”
Section 4 of 6:

Safety Precautions

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  1. Wear gloves, heavy clothing, and a mask when working with concrete. Ortiz-Vega says, “If you get concrete on your skin, it can erode your skin. I recommend covering your whole body, including jeans, gloves, and safety glasses. Also, wear a safety mask with ventilation so you don’t breathe in any chemicals while you’re mixing the concrete.”
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Section 5 of 6:

How many blocks will one bag of cement produce?

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  1. That depends on the size of the blocks you’re making. A 50 lb (23 kg) bag of concrete can make about 0.375 cu ft (0.0106 m 3 ). [10] That could equal:
    • One block measuring 12 × 9 × 6 in (30 × 23 × 15 cm)
    • One block measuring 8 × 9 × 9 in (20 × 23 × 23 cm)
    • One block measuring 13.5 × 8 × 6 in (34 × 20 × 15 cm)
    • Two blocks measuring 12 × 9 × 3 in (30.5 × 22.9 × 7.6 cm)
    • Two blocks measuring 9 × 6 × 6 in (23 × 15 × 15 cm)
Section 6 of 6:

FAQs

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  1. 1
    What is the mixture for concrete blocks? Concrete is made by mixing cement, sand, water, and an aggregate like gravel. The cement-sand-aggregate ratio is usually around 1:3:6, and the water to cement mixture is usually around 0.5 parts water to 1 part cement. [11]
    • Some people skip the gravel in concrete blocks and just mix cement and sand at a ratio of between 1:6 and 1:8. [12]
    • It’s easier (and sometimes cheaper) to buy bagged concrete mix than to mix your own.
  2. 2
    Is it cheaper to buy or make concrete blocks? If concrete blocks are readily available where you live, it’s probably cheaper just to buy them. But if concrete blocks are hard to source in your area, making your own may be a cost-effective option.
  3. 3
    Can additives be used in the concrete mixture for blocks? Yes, if you’re making your own concrete mix, you’ll need to mix in an aggregate like gravel or crushed rock. [13] If you’d like to make colored concrete blocks, you can add concrete pigment to the mix before scooping the concrete into the molds.
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  • Question
    How do I score and cut concrete blocks to make a square corner in a retaining wall?
    Anthony "TC" Williams
    Experienced Landscaper
    Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.
    Anthony "TC" Williams
    Experienced Landscaper
    Expert Answer
    There are multiple ways you can do it. Trying using a masonry blade on a skill saw, hand grinder, or brick saw.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 13
  • Question
    I am doing an Eagle Scout project where I want to make cement bricks or blocks to create grave markers. It is for veterans, so we are hoping to include a small PVC pipe for a flag to go in. Would this method work for that?
    Anthony "TC" Williams
    Experienced Landscaper
    Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.
    Anthony "TC" Williams
    Experienced Landscaper
    Expert Answer
    Install a schedule-40 rated PVC pipe in the form before adding concrete, and it should work well. Perhaps add another PVC pipe for floral arrangements as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 16
  • Question
    What is the difference between cement or concrete mixed with gravel?
    Community Answer
    Cement is the 'glue' that holds the sand and gravel, the aggregate, together; all forming concrete. Cement is made out of limestone that is heated to drive out the water and ground into a fine powder. Adding water causes a chemical reaction called hydrolysis, that creates heat and causes the whole mix to turn into concrete, basically a form of sedimentary rock like the original limestone. Concrete is man-made rock. Glass is also clear rock. The same cement is used with sand and water to make mortar used for laying brick. Cement by itself, mixed with water, will crumble and is not very useful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      2. ↑ https://skat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/concreteblocks.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      5. ↑ https://skat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/concreteblocks.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      7. ↑ https://skat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/concreteblocks.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/BVTC2W159HE?t=43
      1. ↑ https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/howmuch/calculator.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm
      3. ↑ https://skat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/concreteblocks.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.fao.org/4/s1250e/s1250e09.htm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make bricks from concrete, form a mold for the bricks using strips of plywood and lumber. Once you’ve built the mold, spray form release oil on the inside so the concrete doesn’t stick to the wood. After that, mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow and shovel it into the mold. Smooth the concrete flat trowel so they are flat on top. The next day, you can remove the wooden frames from the bricks and let them cure for another 2 weeks. To learn more about how to build the molds and how to store completed bricks, scroll down!

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