DeWalt 2.27 kg / 5 lbs Chalk - Blue

Blue layout lines are the quiet backbone of my framing, flatwork, and exterior layout days. After running through a few different brands, I’ve spent the past season refilling my reels from DeWalt’s 5‑lb blue chalk. It’s a straightforward product, but the details—how it pours, how it lays down, how it holds up, and how it cleans—make a real difference in day-to-day work.

What you’re getting

This is a 5‑lb (2.27 kg) jug of blue chalk designed for standard chalk line reels. DeWalt positions it as a high‑grade chalk with consistent particle size and dependable color. The container itself is an oval bottle (roughly 300 x 200 x 100 mm), which makes more sense than you might think; oval means it stays put on uneven plywood or the back of a truck instead of rolling away when you set it down. The pop‑top spout is tethered, so you’re not chasing a cap across the jobsite or losing it in a bucket. It’s a single bottle—no extras—and carries a one‑year limited warranty.

Blue is the general‑purpose color most crews rely on for interior and exterior layout. It’s visible on concrete, OSB, and lighter roofing without being as stubborn to remove as red or “red permanent.” DeWalt also offers other colors and a smaller 8‑oz size, but the 5‑lb blue jug is the workhorse in my kit.

Bottle and dispensing

I care a lot about how a jug pours because chalk dust gets everywhere once it’s airborne. The spout here has the right bore for most reels: wide enough for a steady flow, narrow enough to avoid sudden surges. The pop‑top lets you meter the pour with small taps, which is handy when topping off a nearly full reel. The tethered cap is more than a nicety—it keeps the cap off the ground and away from grit that could contaminate the chalk.

That oval bottle shape is more than marketing. On sloped roof decks and in the bed of a pickup, a round jug walks. The oval profile sits where you put it. The jug size is manageable: full, it’s not light, but it’s still easy to control one‑handed, and the flat sides give you a sure grip even with gloves. I’d still recommend closing the cap between pours; any open chalk will wick ambient humidity and can cake over time.

Flow, fineness, and line quality

What I want from blue chalk is a clean, crisp line that’s visible but not gummy. This chalk hits that balance. The particles are fine enough to load easily and coat the string uniformly, yet not so talc‑fine that they dust off with the slightest breeze. On smooth concrete and primed drywall, the snap produces well‑defined edges without heavy halos. On rougher surfaces like OSB and broom‑finished slabs, the line has a slightly softer edge, which is expected, but contrast remains good.

I didn’t encounter clumping in the jug or compaction in reels, even after a few damp mornings and the jug living in a truck box. A quick shake before pouring keeps it conditioned. It feeds consistently across different reels I use (DeWalt, Tajima, and Keson), with no bridging in the fill throat.

On-site performance across surfaces

• Concrete and slab work: Visibility is solid in daylight, and the lines stay readable through light foot traffic. On freshly troweled slabs, it snaps clean and wipes off with a dry rag after layout is complete.
• OSB and plywood: Color sits on top rather than sinking, which helps cleanup. If you’re snapping layout that will be painted or finished, a damp sponge typically lifts the residue without smearing.
• Asphalt and sealcoat: Blue shows up well on older or lighter asphalt. On newly sealed, deep‑black surfaces under harsh sun, contrast is acceptable, but black or white chalk can be easier to read at a distance. For quick parking lot layouts, I had no trouble tracking lines, but I wouldn’t call it the highest‑contrast option on jet‑black backgrounds.
• Roofing felt and underlayments: It transfers cleanly without overloading the felt, and it doesn’t permanently stain most synthetics. As always, confirm with the underlayment manufacturer if staining is a concern.

Durability and cleanup

Blue chalk is meant to be temporary and removable, and that’s exactly how this behaves. It stands up to breezes and incidental bumping, and it holds well enough for a day’s work in mild conditions. A rain shower will diminish visibility or erase lines, which is a feature for most interior work and a limitation for long‑term exterior layout. On porous surfaces, a faint tint can remain after several days if it’s been walked in; a damp wipe and a bit of dish soap usually handles it.

Compared to red or permanent chalks, blue is the safer choice when you’re snapping lines on finished interiors or where you might paint over. If you need multi‑day exterior permanence, consider red permanent—but be prepared for staining.

Capacity and workflow

At 80 ounces of chalk, this jug nets quite a bit of runtime. Most chalk reels hold roughly 1 to 2 ounces, so you’re looking at around 40 to 80 refills per jug, depending on reel size and how generously you load the string. For crew work, that’s a reasonable balance between having enough on hand and keeping storage simple. The jug stores cleanly on a shelf or in a bin, and the spout seals well enough that I didn’t find dust migrating into tool bags.

If you’re constantly snapping long lines outdoors or running multiple crews, you might wish for a bulk‑pack option beyond 5 lbs to streamline refills. For individual users or small crews, 5 lbs feels like a practical ceiling: large enough to cut down on store runs, compact enough to manage easily on site.

Compatibility and reel behavior

I ran this chalk through several reels—fast‑retrieves with nylon/poly blends and traditional cotton strings. The chalk coated evenly and didn’t produce clots at the exit gate. There’s no noticeable dye bleeding into the reels’ internal mechanisms, and flush outs between color changes were straightforward. If you’re switching colors regularly, dedicate reels to avoid cross‑contamination; that’s best practice regardless of brand.

Quibbles and wish list

• Bulk option: A larger, jobsite‑friendly bulk container would be welcome for high‑volume outdoor marking. The 5‑lb jug is good; a pail would be great for refilling multiple reels efficiently.
• Spout gasket: The pop‑top seals well, but a secondary twist cap or gasketed closure would add security for rough transport. I haven’t had leaks, but I still store it upright out of habit.
• Contrast on very dark surfaces: Blue remains readable, but if your work is mostly on new black sealcoat or dark membranes, black or white chalk may provide superior contrast.

None of these are deal‑breakers; they’re more about tailoring to specific workflows.

Safety, storage, and warranty

CE Marking is somewhat academic for a jug of chalk, but it signals basic compliance. As with any chalk, avoid breathing dust—pour low and slow, and keep the cap closed. Store in a dry place; humidity is the enemy of free‑flowing powder. The one‑year limited warranty is mostly reassurance on the bottle and spout, and I haven’t had reason to use it.

Who it’s for

• Carpenters, concrete crews, and general contractors who need a dependable, removable layout line.
• Small to mid‑size crews that want fewer refills than an 8‑oz bottle without committing to industrial bulk packaging.
• Anyone working across mixed surfaces indoors and out who prioritizes cleanup and flexibility over maximum permanence.

If your layouts must survive weather for days on end, or you need maximum visibility on very dark substrates, consider other colors in the same line to suit those tasks.

Recommendation

I recommend DeWalt’s 5‑lb blue chalk. It pours cleanly, lays down crisp, consistent lines, and strikes a good balance between visibility and removability on common jobsite surfaces. The oval, tether‑cap bottle is genuinely useful in the field, and the 5‑lb capacity is a practical size for steady professional use without becoming cumbersome. While I’d like to see an even larger bulk option for high‑volume exterior work, this jug hits the sweet spot for most crews and solo operators who need reliable, general‑purpose layout chalk that won’t overstay its welcome.