The Differences Between Cement, Concrete, and Mortar

Cement vs, mortar vs. concrete can confuse DIYers, who may lump all three together as masonry substances that harden to form flat surfaces or are used as binding agents. The terms are often used interchangeably—and inaccurately. Learn why cement, concrete, and mortar are three distinctly different materials.

• Cement (also called Portland cement) is a fine binding powder that is never used alone but is a component of concrete and mortar, stucco, tile grout, and thin-set adhesive.
• Mortar contains cement, fine sands, and lime; it binds materials when building with brick, block, and stone.
• Concrete is a strong structural building material composed of cement, sand, and larger aggregate (gravel). It forms structural slabs, poured foundations, and other permanent structures.

Cement

Cement is:

• A fine manufactured mineral powder used as a binding agent in mortar, concrete, and other building materials
• Not the same as concrete
• Never used alone

Cement is the binding element in both concrete and mortar. It is commonly made of limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand, with limestone being the most prevalent ingredient. These materials are crushed and combined with other ingredients (including iron ore), then heated to about 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. This material, called clinker, is ground into a fine powder and packaged to mix with various cementitious building materials, including mortar and concrete.

Cement is often called Portland cement, coined by a mason in the 1800s who likened the material's color to stone from Portland's quarries off the coast of England. Portland cement remains the most common type of cement used in building materials. This "hydraulic" cement sets and hardens when combined with water.

Concrete

Concrete is:

• A structural building material used to make walls and slabs
• Much stronger than mortar
• Made from a mixture of Portland cement, water, and aggregate of various sizes
• Available in several different formulations

Concrete is a complete building material for foundation walls, concrete slabs, patios, and other masonry structures. This dry mixture turns into a flexible, moldable semi-liquid material that dries as hard-as-rock. In many concrete structures, metal reinforcement, such as wire mesh or rebar, is added for strength to minimize the cracking that can occur in solid concrete.

Concrete is made with cement, sand, gravel, or other fine and coarse aggregate. Water activates the cement and binds the mixture to form a solid.

Ready-made concrete mixes in bags combine cement, sand, and gravel and only require the addition of water. Use concrete for small projects, such as anchoring fence posts or building small pads. For large projects, buy bags of cement and mix them with sand and gravel, using a wheelbarrow or other large container. Or, order premixed concrete delivered by a truck (commonly called "ready-mix" concrete).

Bagged concrete mixes range from standard gravel mix using relatively large aggregate to "sand mix" types that use smaller sands for a finer texture. Concrete mixes, such as topping, repair, or fast-setting types, have special additives designed to improve performance for certain applications.

Mortar

Mortar is:

• A mixture of powdered Portland cement, fine sands, and water
• Used as a "glue" that holds together masonry building units
• Not as strong as concrete
• Sold in bags as a dried powder, or can be mixed from individual components
• Available in different forms, N, M, and S; type S is the most common

Mortar is another building material composed of cement and mixed with fine sands and lime to improve durability. Water activates the cement to harden, or cure, just as it does with concrete. Mortar is not as strong as concrete and typically is not used alone as a building material. Rather, it is the "glue" holding together bricks, concrete blocks, stone, and other masonry materials.

Mortar is commonly sold in bags, in a dry pre-mixed form to combine with water. It can be mixed on-site using a cement mixer or in a wheelbarrow or mixing tub using a hoe or shovel. Different types of mortar are designed for specific applications. Some mortars are too hard for some types of masonry and may crack if improperly used. Type S is the standard choice for common applications, such as joining bricks and blocks.

Grout is a form of mortar but formulated without lime. Grout has a higher water content allowing it to flow and fill gaps between ceramic and stone tiles but it is not a binding material.

Thin-set is made from cement, fine sands, and a water-retaining agent such as an alkyl cellulose derivative. It attaches ceramic and stone tile to a substrate, such as a cement board. Some thin sets have latex and polymer additives to increase the bonding strength. Thin-set has a pronounced adhesive quality and is sometimes called thin-set adhesive.

How to Choose: Cement vs. Concrete vs. Mortar

Here's how to determine which material is right for your project.

• Cement: Use cement for projects that do not need the extra strength of concrete, such as repairing cracks in concrete, forming garden or walkway stepping stones or tiles, making planters, or using cement cinder blocks to create raised garden beds or fire pits.
• Concrete: Pour concrete for heavy-duty projects like patios, slabs, driveways, flooring, or durable countertops.
• Mortar: Use mortar as a binder to join brick, stone, or blocks when building walls.