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🏗️ Concrete Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, and bag counts for any concrete slab, footing, or column. Waste factor included.
📐 Enter Your Dimensions
in
💡 Patio/sidewalk: 4" · Driveway: 6" · Footing: 8–12"
📊 Your Results
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Cubic Yards
Cubic Feet—
60 lb Bags—
80 lb Bags—
Area Covered—
Typical Cost
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Ready-mix: $120–$180/yd³. 60 lb bags: ~$5–$7 each.
How to Calculate Concrete for Any Project
Whether you're pouring a patio, driveway, sidewalk, or footing, getting the concrete calculation right is critical. Order too little and you'll have cold joints; order too much and you're paying to haul away excess. This calculator handles all the math.
The Concrete Formula
Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Thickness in inches) ÷ 324
Always add a waste factor (10% is standard) to ensure you have enough: multiply your result × 1.10.
Bags vs. Ready-Mix
For projects under 0.5–1 cubic yard, bags are practical. For anything larger, ready-mix concrete (ordered by the yard) is far more cost-effective. A 60 lb bag yields 0.45 cubic feet; an 80 lb bag yields 0.60 cubic feet. One cubic yard requires ~45 bags (80 lb) or ~60 bags (60 lb).
Standard Slab Thicknesses
- 4 inches: Sidewalks, patios, garage floors (pedestrian traffic)
- 5 inches: Driveways with light vehicle traffic
- 6 inches: Driveways with heavy vehicles, RVs
- 8–12 inches: Footings, load-bearing foundations
🌡️ Curing Time
Concrete reaches 70% strength in 7 days and full design strength at 28 days. Keep it moist for the first 7 days. Avoid foot traffic for 24 hours, vehicles for 7 days.
⚠️ Ordering Tips
Most ready-mix companies have a minimum order (1–3 yards). Short-load fees apply for small orders. Coordinate delivery timing — concrete must be poured within 90 minutes of batching.
Frequently Asked Questions
One 80 lb bag of Quikrete yields approximately 0.60 cubic feet. A cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so you need 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags per cubic yard. For 60 lb bags (0.45 cu ft each), you need about 60 bags per cubic yard.
For a residential patio or sidewalk with pedestrian traffic: 4 inches. For a driveway with passenger cars: 5 inches. For heavy vehicles or trucks: 6 inches. For footings: consult local building codes, but typically 8–12 inches.
Volume (cubic yards) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Thickness (in) ÷ 324. Always add 10% for waste. Example: a 10×10 ft slab at 4 inches = 10 × 10 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.23 yd³ × 1.10 = 1.35 yd³ to order.
For projects under 1 cubic yard (e.g., fence posts, small slabs), bags are practical and avoid minimum order fees. For projects 1 yard or more, ready-mix is more economical and provides consistent quality. The break-even point is roughly 1 cubic yard.