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Concrete Calculator: How Much Concrete Do I Need?
Photo: skaman306 / Moment / Getty Images
Photo: skaman306 / Moment / Getty Images
Highlights
The amount of concrete you need depends on the volume in cubic feet of the space.
Divide the volume by 27 to convert it to cubic yards. This figure will determine how many bags of concrete you need for your project.
Concrete costs an average of $110 to $150 per cubic yard.
A concrete professional can help with calculations and pouring.
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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.
How Much Concrete Needed Per Cubic Feet
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 |
How to Calculate Cubic Yards of Concrete
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.
How to Measure for Concrete Footings and Columns
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Photo: Ziga Phlahutar / E+ / Getty Images
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.
How to Measure for Concrete Footings
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
How to Measure for Round Concrete Columns
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
Who to Hire to Pour Concrete
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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