Calculating the concrete needed for your project depends on the space volume in cubic feet, then dividing by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
Concrete costs $110 to $150 per cubic yard, with average costs around $130, so accurate measurements help you order the right amount and avoid waste.
You need to measure length, width, and depth in feet, then multiply them together to find the total cubic feet before converting to cubic yards.
Hiring a local concrete driveway professional takes the guesswork out of calculations and pouring, especially for large projects like driveways and patios where precision matters most.
From driveways to patios, concrete is an excellent multi-use material for your home improvement projects. However, before you grab a wheelbarrow and start mixing, you’ll need to do some crucial calculations to determine how much concrete you need. Let’s crunch some numbers so we can keep your concrete dreams from turning into one solid, expensive mess.
Use the table below to quickly convert the cubic feet of the space into cubic yards of concrete and estimate how many 80-lb bags you'll need—because no one likes running out mid-pour.
| Cubic Feet of Space | Cubic Yards of Concrete | Number of Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.19 | 9 |
| 10 | 0.37 | 17 |
| 15 | 0.56 | 26 |
| 20 | 0.74 | 34 |
| 25 | 0.93 | 43 |
To calculate cubic yards of concrete, you first need to determine the volume of the space you’re filling. To get the volume, multiply the length, width, and depth (in feet) of the area you want to fill with concrete. Once you have that number, you can divide it by 27 to convert it to cubic yards.
Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards
An 80-pound bag of concrete mix yields about 0.022 cubic yards of concrete.
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You’ll need to make a few additional calculations to determine the volume of a concrete footing or column and thus how much concrete you’ll need for each. Here’s how to do it.
Whether you’re looking to pour concrete for a house, deck, or shed, you’ll need to measure the depth, width, and length of every footing you’ll need. For example, if you’re pouring for two footings that measure 2 feet long × 2 feet wide × 1.5 feet deep, it will look as follows:
2 x 2 x 1.5 = 6 cubic feet
6 x 2 = 12 cubic feet
12 ÷ 27 = .44 cubic yards
To determine how much concrete you need for a fence post, deck support, or structural column, you’ll need to measure the diameter of the round column in feet or inches and the height of the column. Here’s the formula:
Cubic feet = π x (diameter÷2) squared x height
If you’re an experienced DIYer, it may be tempting to mix and pour concrete yourself, but large-scale projects such as driveways and patios are best handled by a local concrete professional. They’ll have a crew and a plethora of tools and equipment you’d likely have to rent for an additional cost. Plus, hiring an expert ultimately makes the job easier on you—no mess, no guesswork, and no uneven slabs.
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